Kollywood needs to go back to storyboard on cost control

The process of making films within a specified big budget and ensuring commercial success is understood by Hindi cinema but Tamil cinema is yet to learn and costs are skyrocketing beyond the scope of revenues possible. 

Aamir Khan’s Dangal, which earned over Rs 750 crore worldwide was made in just Rs 70 crore! Tamil top hero’s films are made with a much higher budget, despite maximum revenue potential being around Rs 100 crore from all rights. Aamir Khan accepts a basic salary and then takes a portion of profit as his  remuneration. Hence, if film succeeds, he also earns and if it fails, the producer does not lose. Unfortunately, such trust in producers and business risk- sharing attitude does not exist among top heroes and filmmakers here and the producers end up losing when films fail. This scenario must change and top heroes/filmmakers must move towards revenue sharing model for long term survival of the industry. 

The key is cost control, right from pre-production to production to post-production, once the script is locked. Thorough planning of the film with shot division, storyboard and rehearsals with artistes must be done. Instead of asking, “How many days required to complete the shoot?” producers must ask the direction team, “Can you finish within these many days?” Only when constrained, teams deliver their best. A small budget film must be shot within 50 days and a big starcast film within 75—100 days to minimise cost. 

The direction team must work on a budget based on average of the maximum revenue potential and minimum revenue potential for a film than looking at maximum potential alone. 

It is said ‘Necessity is the mother of invention.’ Unless there is a strong need for the team to work within tight budget, innovation in production planning and execution will not be there.  

All that a small budget film requires is familiar faces and not expensive artistes, if the script is strong. That will help to keep the budget low. Recent hit film Athey Kangal with known actors was made at a budget of just Rs.1.75 crore, followed this formula. In a big budget film, except the hero, heroine and main villain, audience are not bothered about other faces. Hence, giving opportunity to new faces in such films may reduce cost. Such films can also try out new technicians at lower cost. Expensive artistes must be used only when the script strongly demands, otherwise, opting for familiar or new faces, which can come at lower costs, is a good strategy to keep cost low. 

The wages of workers (FEFSI) is not a major component for big budget films. However, it is,  for a small budget film. Hence, doing small budget films within shortest duration is the key to reduce cost. Selecting stories which can be shot with minimum number of outdoor days, intelligent making of film by mixing outdoor shots with local shots thereby reducing outdoor days, having artistes who will not cause delays in filmmaking are other tools available. Technology can be used effectively to reduce cost. A recent film Kadhal Kankattuthey was appreciated for its cinematography using an intermediary technology though it was shot in 5-D camera. Effective use of technology to bring down cost is the key. 

Going for VFX/CG based solutions to manage constraints in shooting increases cost. Technology should support filmmaking and not replace unless one is making a VFX/CG based film. VFX/CG solutions must be opted for only when it is the only option left to film a scene. Saving on production and post-production expenses is also an earning. The same attitude must be displayed in marketing and distribution to ensure the film is produced and released in the lowest possible budget, which guarantees at some level, recovery of investment, if the subject is good.