It is known that Shah Rukh Khan's "Chennai Express" is releasing worldwide on the eve of Eid (8 August).
Latest buzz is that south actor Vijay's "Thalaivaa" is expected to get released around the same time. UTV Motion Pictures is planning to release SRK's "Chennai Express" in more than 3,500 plus screens including south Indian states where King Khan's films do well.
"Thalaivaa" makers are reportedly planning to release the film on 9 August. Vijay has a strong foothold in south India. He also enjoys immense popularity in Kerala, Karnataka and overseas markets. According to reports, 15 percent of the total revenue of his films comes from markets outside Tamil Nadu.
Eid is one of the biggest festivals not just in bollywood, but also in Kerala. The Kerala distributors of "Thalaivaa" are already finding it difficult to get enough number of screens mainly in Malabar area as four big Malayalam films are releasing during that time. Moreover, "Chennai Express" makers have booked 60 screens in Kerala, where Shah Rukh also enjoys a huge market.
Overeseas Markets
Vijay's overseas market has been increasing with every film release. The release of "Thalaivaa" at the same time as "Chennai Express" might affect the films' revenue. According to trade sources, when a big hero film gets a solo release it will rake in better collections in the overseas market. The overseas distributors of "Thalaivaa" have requested the film's producer Chandraprakash Jain to push the release date from 9 August to 23 August, reported Sify.com.
Besides, releasing "Thalaivaa" on 9 August might hamper its prospects in Tamil Nadu, as Selvaraghavan's much-awaited "Irandam Ulagam" is expected to hit the theatres on the same day.
As of now, there is no confirmation from the makers on "Thalaivaa" release date. It has to be seen if the makers would delay the release so as to avert a clash with "Chennai Express."
