MUMBAI: It is almost de rigueur that when a big film is slated for release there has to be some noise at the multiplexes. Yash Raj set the ball rolling and the most recent case was during Diwali over Om Shanti Om, with multiplexes demanding a bigger share of the revenue. It is the same now with Aamir Khan’s Taare Zameen Par. The film, which is co-produced by PVR Cinemas, is also being distributed by them. PVR multiplexes are demanding a bigger revenue share than the non-PVR multiplexes are ready to pay.

It is said that they want 50 per cent of the profit instead of the usual 48 per cent from the first week’s collections and a 45 per cent cut in the second week instead of the normal 38 per cent.

Besides, as against the normal practice of opening advance bookings on a Wednesday, PVR has opened the bookings for TZP on the weekend. For Studio 18’s Welcome, which also releases on 21 December, the plans opened as always on Wednesday. An unnamed source informs, “A lot of research has gone into TZP. We feel it is a better film, and hence, it has been decided to open plans ahead of Welcome. Moreover, many other multiplexes are encouraging TZP over Welcome and scheduling shows accordingly.”

Cinemax VP marketing Devang Sampat explains, “Yes, negotiations are on for both TZP and Welcome. I can’t reveal the percentages as yet as I will know only by this evening. As for the scheduling of the shows, I can say that most multiplexes have 4 screens and hence the shows for both the films will be equally divided.”

While Fun Cinemas refrained from making any statement, a spokesperson for Adlabs Cineams also confirmed that they were in a discussion on the same for both the up-coming films.

The fate of the films hangs on a thread as the number game continues.