?Kitne aadmi the? Do… aur tum tin. Phir bhi wapas aa gaye?? When Gabbar Singh asked this famous question in the 1975 blockbuster Sholay, the apparent inefficiency of the number fetched millions to its producers. But 32 years later, the number, or the lack of it, has become the biggest headache for producers. They now have more funds, more opportunities but not the required manpower, number that is, to launch a movie project. The result is a long queue at the doors of a few good talents.
?I personally know some of the corporates who have the money but are forced to wait for at least the next two years to sign worthy directors,? said the head of a leading movie post-production house, on the condition of anonymity.
Movies based on a set formula with only a handful of lead stars are an obvious reason for the crunch. Producers fear to experiment, and are now running behind few people with a lot of money, admits P Saminathan, MD, Pyramid Saimira Theatre.
Companies also tend to overpay leading directors, actors and technicians for securing their commitments for their projects, he adds. However, the phenomenon is more pronounced in the north than the southern part of the country, Saminathan says. This is another reason why corporates in the northern India are looking at options in the Tamil and Telugu film industries. K Sera Sera, UTV and Adlabs are few of those that released films in regional languages in 2007.
Manmohan Shetty, former CMD, Adlabs Films Ltd, had admitted in an earlier interview that corporate houses in the North are heading South for the sake of expansion. ?Corporates have picked up money (raised) from the markets. They have to deploy it. So, they are looking for other avenues,? he said.