Eros's demand for a stay was refused despite signed contracts but it can charge single screen exhibitors on solo houseful basis
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 18, 2015)
Mirror (December 16) had reported that a substantial number of single screen theatres, particularly in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and parts of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, could only screen Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period romance, Bajirao Mastani, because of an agreement between the exhibitors and the film's co-producers and distributors, Eros. International. Back in July, just before their Eid release, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Eros had booked several of the prominent single screen theatres across the country for December 18 and their Christmas release in anticipation of the competition posed by Star Wars—The Force Awakens. The Hollywood franchise has been pushed forward to December 24, but with Shah Rukh Khan's Dilwale suddenly entering the fray, the exhibitors found themselves cut out of another potential money-earner and decided to break the agreement. And Eros moved court demanding a stay.
Their demand for an injunction was refused, but the judge ordered that Eros could claim damages on the shows they had lost to the other film from the exhibitors who had violated the agreement. The company's spokesperson said, "We have valid, signed contracts and the court pointed out that we have recourse to damages on solo houseful basis. However, we hope to settle amicably. We already have the showcasing as per our strategy and are getting very positive reactions to the film from across the world."
Distributor Vinay Choksey, speaking on behalf of the single screen theatres, told Mirror, "Since they haven't been able to get a stay Eros will now have to compromise and mentally agree to share screen time with Dilwale. To claim damages they will have to move court again, file a fresh case, it's a long-drawn process. For now, negotiations are on and we will try to ensure justice to both parties with equal division of screens, may be centres too in some cases. On our part we are happy that we can screen both films today."
When we contacted Manoj Desai, owner of Maratha Mandir and Gaiety Galaxy, he said, "Right now, we are working on the show timings for both the films. The good news for me is that Maratha Mandir can screen both Dilwale and Bajirao Mastani. We are hoping that we can arrive at a compromise so that exhibitors don't have to pay any money to Eros in the future."
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Bajirao Mastani makers’ deal to keep single screens only for their film disallowed by the High Court
Gaurav Dubey (MID-DAY; December 18, 2015)
The makers of Bajirao Mastani suffered a major blow, hours before their big box office clash with Dilwale. Eros International, producer of the period drama, had moved the High Court after single-screen exhibitors refused to honour a previous contract preventing them from running any film other than the period drama in their theatres. However, the court has allowed theatre owners to run both big-banner films, revealed sources present during the hearing last afternoon.
“Prior to the release of their Bajrangi Bhaijaan in July, Eros signed an agreement with the single screen theatre owners in Rajasthan and many other places in India, asking them not to screen any other film except Bajirao Mastani for at least a week. However, the exhibitors were worried that they might suffer losses if the film didn’t find as many takers as Dilwale, which stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol,” says a source.
When the theatre owners expressed their wish to allot equal number of shows to Dilwale, Eros bosses were miffed and filed a complaint with the High Court on Wednesday, adds the source.
While there wasn’t sufficient clarity about the reasons for the court ruling in favour of theatre owners, the production company in a media statement said, “We have valid signed contracts and the court pointed out that we have recourse to damages on solo houseful basis. However, we hope to settle amicably. We already have the showcasing as per our strategy and are getting very positive reactions for Bajirao Mastani from all over the world. We are confident our magnificent film will be a winner with the audiences.”