Big production houses arm twist exhibitors!

Nikhil Dwivedi's Tamanchey was all set to release on September 19. However, Yash Raj Films moved their film Daawat-E-Ishq from September 5 to 19. Tamanchey had to be moved ahead and now will release on October 10.

Nikhil, who has also produced the film, is naturally upset with YRF for asking exhibitors to drop his film and give priority to their project.

Nikhil says, "We were all set for a September 19 date. We put our trailer out with Kick in July and said coming September in all our communication regarding the film. The next thing we know is that Daawat-E-Ishq decided to come on the same date and the exhibitors, who had a deal with us, backed out. They all decided to give DEI priority over us because we are a smaller film." Did he think of approaching Yash Raj to negotiate? "No, cause that wasn't going to help us at all. It's known for a fact that big production houses arm twist exhibitors. Tamanchey is a small film compared to the likes of Khoobsurat and Daawat-E-Ishq which are clashing on the same day."

The production house given the fact that they are known for using this strategy in the past (something similar happened with Son Of Sardar and Jab Tak Hai Jaan) Nikhil adds, "I am dejected. But it's a business, the bigger player will always eat up the smaller player. The exhibitors are the one who should take a stand, but I doubt this mindset is ever going to change in our country. How can they ruthlessly drop a small film... It's really shocking how they play into the hands of the big guns."

He reveals that he suffered financial losses due to the date change, "You have to understand that for a medium budget film any small change hurts the monies. And moving the release date is a big deal. We had standees in theatres, promos on YouTube with half a million views, we lost all that because the date got changed."