KOCHI: Malayalam cinema is set to go places with the worldwide release of multi-starrer 'Christian Brothers' on March 18. The movie, slated to hit 302 screens, is expected to be a trailblazer prompting more and more producers to release flicks for international viewers.
"The state government's decision is a breather for the ailing industry. With this, Malayalam cinema will be able to tap more outstation markets,'' said Kerala Film Producers Association president G Suresh Kumar.
At present, Malayalam cinema has potential in cities like Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai. "A successful Malayalam movie will get a minimum share of Rs 30 lakh from other states. If tapped properly, this can be increased to `1 crore," said Suresh Kumar.
The most potential market for Malayalam movies is West Asia, he said. "A movie which has superstars, especially Mammootty and Mohanlal, will fetch Rs 35 lakh in overseas rights. By extending the market to other countries, we will be able to do business for around Rs 1 crore in the international market," Suresh Kumar said.
Though Bollywood and Kollywood movies are released simultaneously in other countries, Malayalam films are released overseas weeks after its release in Kerala.
Subair, one of the producers of 'Christian Brothers,' said the movie will be released in 11 countries, including UK, US, Singapore, Australia and UAE. The movie, which will be released in 16 theatres in Bangalore, will hit the screens in Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai, including 150 cinemas in Kerala.
''The worldwide release will be highly beneficial to multistarrers as well as bigbudget movies like 'Christian Brothers.' The movie, produced at an approximate budget of Rs 15 crore, need to tap new markets as it is not possible to recover the production cost from a small market like Kerala,'' Subair said.
Multi-starrers and bigbudget productions like 'China Town,' 'King 2,' 'Arakkallan Mukkakkallan' and 'Casanova,' slated for release later this year, are expected to follow in the footsteps of 'Christian Brothers.'