Today Aascar Films is the biggest banner in Kollywood in the field of
production, distribution and exhibition. The man behind it is V
Ravichandran, who two decades back was running his father’s film
distribution company in Vellore.
Ravi, the ambitious young man was a pathbreaker in film business. His
claim to fame is the way he distributed and popularised Jackie Chan
movies in south India in the early 90’s.
Later, Ravichandran forayed into Tamil film production and distribution and struck gold through films like
Vanathe Pole, Ramanna, Anniyan, Dasavatharam Velayudhamand
has also distributed over 200 films. He controls nearly 25 screens in
NSC area. Ravi knows Tamil Nadu film market like the back of his hand
and they say he can smell a hit.
The elusive Ravichandran is one producer who refuses to come under
the limelight. As a policy he does not attend any function including his
own film audio launch or other celebrations! He believes that the film
he takes should do the talking at the box-office and also refuses to be
photographed.
Sitting in his posh office at Ashok Nagar in Chennai, Aascar Ravichandran in an exclusive interview to
Sreedhar Pillai opens up on
Billa 2 and lot more.
Why has Billa 2 release been delayed?
The film was technically ready and handed over to me only on July 2, and
then we announced the release date as July 13. I cannot be blamed for
the delay in release.
Is there any difference of opinion between you and Billa 2 producer Sunir Kheterpal over the pricing of the film?
I have been in film business for the last 33 years and done so many big
films as producer and distributor. So far there has not been any
complaint against me or my company. Once I sign a deal it will be
honoured at any cost.
Aascar Films has purchased the Tamil Nadu theatrical rights of
Billa 2 from
Sunir Kheterpal for Rs 24.11 Crore plus Rs 2 Crore publicity. I have
paid him the entire amount before release, and we are good friends.
How confident are you about recovering your money and making a profit from Billa 2, which has got an ‘A’ certificate?
I’m 100% confident that I will make money on
Billa 2, which
will be released wide on July 13. I’m distributing the film for entire
Tamil Nadu and have not sold any areas to sub-distributors. The number
of screens is increasing by the day, the exact screen count will be
known only by Thursday (July 12). At the last count it was around 550
screens in TN , plus another 100 odd in Ceded area of Andhra and north
India through PVR. My estimate is that I will recover my investment in
the first week itself. The film has potential to collect Rs 55 to Rs 60
Crore in the first week.
Did you watch the film?
Yes, I saw the first copy and I’ simply loved it. Ajith sir is
extraordinary. I don’t want to talk anything further about it, as too
much hype gives over expectation.
Do you feel star power sells the best at box-office?
I think star power enables an opening and if content is good sky is the
limit. In Tamil cinema the first of the superstars were Thyagaraja
Bhagavathar and NS Krishnan, then it was MGR and Sivaji followed by
Kamal and Rajini and today it is Ajith and Vijay. Today’s superstars
have a minimum guarantee and they are safe bets.
Tell us something about Ajith’s opening?
Ajith sir has a phenomenal opening. The kind of response to Billa 2 advance booking all over TN is proof of that.
What next?
I have four films in various stages of production- Shankar’s
I, Boologam, Mariyaan and Vallinam. Next year I will be starting a film with Kamal Haasan and later with Jackie Chan.
