Monopolstic trade practice or fair game - Ajay Devgan vs Yashraj

[DomainK]

Everyone knows that Yashraj Studio's SRK starer "Jabtak hai jaan" is releasing on Diwali and so is Ajay Devgan's "Son of Sardar". General rule of thumb says that you just do not take on an SRK film on a big occasion, but Ajay showed the balls and decided to do so. The first blow to Ajay of course was the sad demise of Yashji, which will definitely make folks rush to watch the last of the legend. The second blow - when Ek Tha Tiger released, which was almost guaranteed to be a blockbuster (such is the Salman-power), Yashraj studios, who distribute their own films, also signed an agreement with single screen theaters to screen "Jab tak hai jaan" during Diwali. The condition was that "If you agree to screen "Jabtak hai jaan" during Diwali, then only you get to screen "Ek tha tiger". Now when Devgan went to distribute his own film, the single screen theaters showed him the door. So Devgan recently took the matter to Competition Commission of India, the fair trade regulators and even knocked the doors of high court for a fast hearing. But he lost his case and is now exploring other avenues to be heard. The CCI ruled that it was smart and aggressive marketing and not unfair monopoly. However, it also proves that even Yashraj thinks that Salman is more powerful than SRK. SRK's film was sold on the shoulders of a Salman film. Well done Sallu. :two_thumbs_up:

[Prakat]

Interesting that a SRK film is piggybacking on a Salman Eidi. The tide has turned on Srk's popularity since Salman has slowly captured middle-India youth's imagination. It started with Wanted, Dabanng took it to another level and Ready and Bodyguard were potboilers but did great at the BO. He tried to be different in Veer and learned a valuable lesson in that, give the audience what it has paid to come see and nobody gets hurt. Now a Salman film is a sure as guns 100 crores. So confident is Salman in his product that he is driving a hard negotiation with his producers and getting them to sign up for a prenup where they get a predetermined amount back on their investment and what's above and beyond belongs to Salman which right now is a fair bit of change.

[Mariyam]

I'm sure we don't have all the details on this one. That SoS and JTHJ were to release during Diwali was known to all and sundry much in advance. Why did Ajay Devgan only approach the single screen theatres only now? Shouldn't this have been sorted out much in advance, especially when so much ( supposedly, 80 crores is the cost of SoS) The conditional pre-booking of theatres by YRF does lessen competition, so it can be a monopolistic trade practice. But it is a very weak case. You have many such cases in FMCG markets too. HUL/P&G/Marico etc routinely indulge in such practices: You give us this fixed % of your premium shelf space for a product in a category in which we don't do well and we'll also give you contracts for products which are selling like hot cakes etc.

[vayuu1]

Only an idiot would say srk banking on etk ,the thing is that jthj release date was announced last year ,so it was bound to have more screens than SOS ,SOS dates were finalized during mid of this year hence less screens ,srk doesn't need chewtiya like lallu for his movies .

[vayuu1]

There is also a buzz that makers of talaash has asked distributers for giving two week solo run and not allow any new release which will effect khiladi 786 slated to release a week later after talaash

[CandyFloss]

The Competition Appellate Tribunal today refused to stay the screening of 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' produced by Yash Raj Films but issued notices to the production house on Ajay Devgn's plea that alleged abuse of dominant position.