YRF versus Ajay Devgn Films: Diwali BO competition heats up

The moods of the people behind the films Jab Tak Hai Jaan (JTHJ) and Son of Sardaar (SOS), which are both releasing on Diwali, are getting more explosive by the minute. In the complaint they filed against Yash Raj Films in the Competition Commission of India, Ajay Devgn Films (ADF), accused them of...

The moods of the people behind the films Jab Tak Hai Jaan (JTHJ) and Son of Sardaar (SOS), which are both releasing on Diwali, are getting more explosive by the minute.

In the complaint they filed against Yash Raj Films (YRF) in the Competition Commission of India, Ajay Devgn Films (ADF), accused them of impeding the distribution of their co-production, Son of Sardaar. ADF’s lawyers state: “ADF’s case is that producers/distributors/ exhibitors cannot be allowed to enter into a tie-in which adversely affects competition. YRF has entered into a tie-in with the exhibitors in a manner that has made it compulsory for the exhibitors to exhibit the untitled movie of YRF on Diwali day and two weeks thereafter with all four shows.”

In response, YRF, the makers of JTHJ, state: “All that the exhibitors, when approached by us earlier this year for booking their theatres, were happy to play out Yashji’s movie considering their long standing, emotional relationship and goodwill with YRF for over 40 years. A Yash Chopra/Shah Rukh Khan movie, coming after a gap of eight long years, did not need any coercion for contractual screening."