The
change of guard in the State after the April Assembly elections hasn’t
been a good augury for Sun Pictures, owned by the media baron Kalanithi Maran’s Sun Network.
Soon after the new establishment took over the reins in May, Sun
Pictures faced problems on many fronts. Obviously, it has had a telling
effect on Sun Pictures’ buying capacity to release and distribute new
films.
Sun Pictures’ latest release was Vedi which starred Vishal and Sameera Reddy
in the lead. The film bombed at the box-office despite Sun Pictures’
onslaught in promoting the film through the various channels under the
Sun Network. Sun Pictures then announced that it was taking up the
release and distribution of Vikram’s upcoming film Rajapattai directed
by Suseendhiran.
The film was Vikram’s commercial venture after his Deivathirumagal
which catered mainly to ‘A’ centres. In keeping with his policy of
doing commercial films in between starring in off-beat films, Vikram
took up Rajapattai knowing very well that it was an ultra-commercial
venture. The fact that Tollywood’s glam-doll Deeksha Seth is making her debut in Tamil films as heroine with this film added to its market value.
Actresses Reema Sen and Shriya Saran, who had earlier starred opposite Vikram
in Dhool and Kandhasamy respectively in that order, have danced for a
‘super-item number’ with Vikram which promises a ‘double-treat’ for all
the fans of the actresses. Vikram has also danced with the
stunning-looking Saloni for another song in the film (isn’t the guy soooo lucky to be dancing alongside 4 heroines in a single film?)
Though
Sun Pictures had all these in mind when it procured the film’s
distribution and release rights, it has now backed off. Many
theatre-owners’ decision not to screen films distributed by Sun Pictures till it settled the pending dues could be part of the reason, it is said. It is now rumoured that actress Radaan Media Works might take up the release and distribution of Rajapattai.