GV Films has snapped up the Chennai distribution rights for Tamil mega star Rajinikanth’s much-hyped flick, ‘Sivaji’, scheduled for release on June 15, even as Raj TV’s new channel, Kalaignar TV, seems to have bagged the satellite rights pipping Sun TV.
According to sources, AVM, the company which has produce the movie, appears to have completed the transaction for Tamil Nadu distribution rights for Rs 52 crore. This is based on a minimum guarantee from the film’s initial run in the first 30-40 days.
The overseas rights of ‘Sivaji’ went for roughly Rs 12-15 crore. In context, it may be mentioned that Rajini’s movies have developed a sizeable market in Japan.
GV, along with Abhirami Group is coughing up Rs 6.5 crore to bag the rights for one of the most sought after distribution circles in Tamil Nadu. Last year, GV had picked up part distribution of Kamal Hassan blockbuster ‘Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu’.
GV expects ‘Sivaji’ to mop up about Rs 10-11 crore from Chennai city in the initial run. The film rights in Tamil Nadu are distributed region wise  Chennai, NSC (Arcot region), Coimbatore, Salem, Trichy-Tanjavur and Madurai-Ramnad.
The production cost of ‘Sivaji’ was around Rs 60 crore. Traditionally, Chennai, Madurai-Ramnad and Coimbatore areas command the biggest distribution price.
Tamil Nadu and overseas rights together may have almost covered the production cost. And this excludes the audio, satellite and outside Tamil Nadu market rights.
The arrival of Kalaignar channel saw Sun TV going out of favour with regard to satellite rights. Incidentally, Sun TV had bagged the satellite rights for most of Rajini’s recent blockbusters like ‘Chandramukhi’, ‘Baba’, ‘Padaiyappa’, ‘Arunachalam’ and ‘Muthu’.
For GV, this marks its second association with a Rajini movie. In 1991, it produced one of the milestone movies in Rajini’s career, ‘Thalapathi’. The blockbuster was directed by Manirathnam. Some of GV’s other notable productions include ‘Nayagan’, ‘Anjali’, ‘Agni Natchathiram’, ‘Indira’ and ‘Tamizhan’. Source: Televisionpoint
