Television vs Sher Bagga: Distributor's unethical practices setting wrong example

Television vs Sher Bagga: Fifth clash in the Punjabi film industry this year will be registered on this Friday.

With Taj's 'Television' and Jagdeep Sidhu's 'Sher Bagga' releasing in cinema halls worldwide on this Friday, June 24 will mark the fifth occasion of the Punjabi film industry witnessing a box-office clash this year.

In a competitive industry such as the showbiz, five such clashes in six months should ideally mean nothing especially if both the concerned parties are playing fair and square.

While cut-throat competition is also acceptable in the ultra-competitive world we're living in but only as long as ethics are being followed. Having said that, a recent behind-the-scene incident has brought to light an unethical practice followed by a distributor which should be a source of concern for one and all.

Television vs Sher Bagga clash

If a recent viral video from one of the press conferences of Television is to be believed, the cast of the movie has alleged that the distributor of Sher Bagga is flexing his muscle to manipulate cinema owners regarding not giving adequate amount of shows to Television on this Friday.

It is true that cinema owners allot shows to a movie taking into consideration its cast and makers. That said, it has been reported that the distributor of Sher Bagga is not even letting cinema halls allocate the number of shows which Television deserves on paper.

Apart from not letting cinema owners decide on their own, such a practice also snatches the choice of watching a movie from the viewers. When people rate movies on the basis of cast, concept, songs etc., shouldn't the decision of selecting which movie to watch be both theirs own and free from any kind of influence?

A movie which doesn't receive enough peak-time shows is bound to not perform at the box-office for an average viewer won't make any special effort of watching an early morning or a late night show.

If the distributor of Sher Bagga has indeed done something that has been alleged, such an act has it in it to not only affect one movie but the working of the whole industry. A move which will doubtlessly hamper the growth of Punjabi cinema, such a practice will put a halt in front of the custom of supporting each other to ensure everyone's success.