| KT
Kunjumon alleges Vijay for his bankrupt.
What’s Vijay’s reply? |
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The
film industry is riddled with several ironic
quirks of destiny. The enjoyable moments
on screen are the result of relentless passion
of those who work behind the scenes. While
the films make history, many who are involved
in the project often find themselves unsung.
This is not the case with technicians alone.
It could happen to someone who is an important
part of the filmmaking process- the producer. |
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There
are several films which got made after
being rejected many times mainly because
the producer was convinced of the
script. Such films also became hits.
Therefore, a producer is not merely
someone who pumps in the money but
who also brings a vital perspective
and has the intuitive ability to figure
out what would click and what would
not. Tamil cinema has a long heritage
of talented producers who were powerful
bosses.
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The
ironic twist we referred to earlier is about
some producers who called the shots in their
heydays but now find themselves being treated
in a cruel manner by dame luck. They face
the ignominy of being dragged to courts
and hauled up for not repaying debts. Men
who splurged lakhs and crores are advised
on being prompt in payment. Take K.T. Kunjumon,
for example. |
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Many were surprised to read that KT had
been sentenced to imprisonment for not repaying
his loans. While the portly producer with
the twirling moustache is out on bail, he
is surely shaken. Regarding the incident
he said,” I am not sure why Mr. Suresh,
who has filed this case acted in this manner.
I have borrowed and repaid huge sums before
as well. Just for 25 lakhs he has done this.
But he retains the documents of my properties
worth 70 lakhs. “ |
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The man who was a trendsetter in the
past decade by bringing in opulence
on screen continues,” I have
been instrumental in launching the
careers of so many people….Sarath
became a big star after Suriyan, Shankar
was noticed only after Gentleman,
which I made at a whopping cost of
4 crores in the early 1990s, AR Rahman
scored for Gentleman, Kadhalan, Rakshakan
and Kadhal desam and became hugely
popular, actors Prabudeva, Ranjit,
Damu, directors Pavitran, Madhesh,
Venkatesh, Jeeva, K.V. Anand. I could
go on and on. Yet, no one called for
courtesy sake to enquire what happened.”
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The
bubbly guy continued in a soft voice,”
I am facing huge debts now only because
of a verbal understanding which I had with
SA Chandrasekar – Vijay’s father.”
Well, what happened? |
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“
I agreed to produce a couple of films
with Vijay in the lead. SAC also agreed
to give me perpetual rights over the
films. So, I made Nilave vaa in which
I lost about 1.5 crores. Then, I made
Endrendrum kadhal which sunk about
1.75 crores. But the worse part is
SAC gave me the rights only for five
years, which has hit me badly. Despite
my appeals to the Producers’
Council, nothing has happened. But
I am confident to bouncing back.”
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What
does SAC have to say about this?
“It is true that KT Kunjumon
agreed to produce films with Vijay.
He took one complete set as the producer.
There has been no agreement between
him and us. Vijay cannot be forced
to work only with KT. Besides, if
the films did not do well, what can
actors do? If KT has taken loans,
he should repay them and not talk
about unrelated things. Moreover it’s
not fair to dig the past”. |
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