[icernet] Now, new Tamil films on TV

[Arul Selvan]

With theatre halls in Chennai now giving way to shopping malls or 
marriage halls, the Tamil film industry has begun a number of 
initiatives in a bid to promote Tamil films. The Tamil Film Producers 
Guild and the South Indian Artistes Association in collaboration with 
cable television operators will float a new Tamil satellite television 
channel. Beginning September 15, this channel will beam new Tamil films 
and songs. Industry sources say this will help control video piracy and 
the income from this channel will be ploughed into the film industry. 
The decreasing filmgoing public has led to the closure of over 800 
cinema houses over the last five years, says the Tamil Nadu Exhibitors 
Association. Famous cinema houses like Sun, Paragon, Uma and Wellingdon, 
which date back to over 100 years, have now given way to commercial 
complexes in the city. Soaring real estate value is another reason that 
seems to have influenced exhibitors to opt for marriage halls and 
shopping complexes over cinemas. The Tamil film industry, known to 
produce over 50 films annually, produced 43 films last year. The 
reason cited for this decrease is high production costs and video piracy 
-- CDs of newly released films are freely available on the day of their 
release. Now, in a bid to help producers, filmstars have been conducting 
Star Nites in Dubai and London, proceeds from which will go to 
producers, says Vijaykanth, President, South Indian Artistes Association.

Source:
http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/jun/11tamil.htm