Tamil Cinema has been going through tough times recently. After the release of Vijay’s Leo last October, no movie has done exceptionally well. Even during Pongal, no film managed to earn more than 100Cr in Tamil Nadu. Surprisingly, the combined earnings of all movies released for Sankranti were less than 100Cr.
The situation worsened after Sankranti, with theaters struggling to cover rents. Single screens are particularly affected, leading many owners to close them down. In Chennai, around 6 single screens are set to shut down soon, and in Coimbatore, 5 single screens are facing a similar fate.
This trend is not limited to specific regions; single screens across Tamil Nadu are grappling with challenges, and approximately 40 of them may close this year. The main issue is that single screens find it hard to sustain, as most audiences now prefer multiplexes even for movies featuring popular stars.
Adding to the troubles, distributors are demanding a higher percentage, making it even more challenging for single screens to generate income. The deals are not proving beneficial for exhibitors, leading theaters to incur deficits since October on most days. Unfortunately, this trend is expected to persist, and the closure of many single screens seems likely in the coming years.
The shutting down of these single screens, which have been a significant part of Tamil Cinema, is a painful development for many in the industry.
