‘Rajini’s role is much more than 25 %'

PYRAMID Saimira is at its pinnacle now, rightly so. It has just bought the distribution rights for Rajini-starrer Kuselan for a whopping Rs 65 crore.

Thoughits group Chairman, PS Saminathan, refused to confirm the amount, hetold this website's newspaper that this was the costliest deal thecompany has struck.

PS Saminathan, who has taken the reignsrecently, following ‘Pyramid' V Natarajan's retirement, says Rajini'sinvolvement in the film was actually the reason he opted for the movie.

Kuselanwas actually a movie Rajini was wary of creating expectations with thefans. "I don't account for more than 25 percent of the movie," heopenly stated at the movie launch in early March.

And it was believable to all those Rajini fans, who by then had grabbed a copy of the Malayalam original Kadha Parayumbhol.Mamooty, whose character Rajini is now playing, did little more thanoffer himself for the camera for a few minutes, doing a cameo.

Sowhy opt for a movie which the Superstar is only 25 percent of, thattoo, at a record price? PS Saminathan comes with more news: "Actually,the role of Rajini is much much more than 25 percent. That's why," hesays.

Now, that must be relief to the million-odd fans who couldn't fathom why Rajini chose to do such a role in the first place.

Kuselan,starring Rajini, Pasupathy, Nayantara, Meena and Vadivelu, is PyramidSaimira's single costliest project. "But in terms of exposure, it isour least risky project," clarifies Saminathan.

An auction for Kuselan'srights has been in the news for quite sometime now, and the one whoseems to have bagged it, in all languages, all forms and all modes,worldwide, says its brand, infrastructure, industry goodwill, not toforget its exhibition dominance, pulled it through.

"All ofthem participated," he says, referring to other major distributors."But the deal wasn't initiated by us," Saminathan explains, as hebelieves any South Indian film will have to play in Pyramid's screensfor proper collections.

Likewise, he says competing in terms of price might not be necessary, as the movie will run in his theatres anyway.

Kuselanis the story of the friendship between an actor and a barber. Rajiniplays himself in the movie. And there is a popular belief in theindustry that movies based on films and film stars don't turn out to belucrative ventures.

But when asked to comment on it, "I've notheard of any such belief. I know not one big film which has failed thisway," he retorts. "Remember the Hindi film Was it a success or a failure?" he asks in return.

Asone of the leaders in the business of cinema (Pyramid Saimira is intoproduction, exhibition and distribution of movies), their take on filmsin Kollywood is a revelation in itself.

"Only low-class filmscollect money, be it in cities, towns or villages," Saminathansays,when asked about what kind of films sell.

Good movies, hesays, are reviewed well, receive appreciation and are talked about, butnot seen even by those who appreciate it.

"It is like the case with educated critics, who complain about politics, write letters to the editor, but do not vote," he says.

Andwhen asked what Kollywood depends most on, Saminathan says it still isthe star value that rules, though his company is striving hard to makeit change.

Buying a Rajini-starrer at a record price may suggest otherwise though.
-Newindpress.com

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