Director-actor Parthiban effected a crackdown on pirated DVDs at Burma Bazaar in Chennai on Friday. In the operation that took place along with the Anti Video-Piracy cell of the Crime Branch, over 25000 DVDs of the actor’s latest release, Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam were seized, and the vendors arrested. The director, who was present at the spot, said that he acted on a tip-off that he had received about pirated DVDs being sold at different places in the city. Speaking to Silverscreen.in, he revealed that Astalakshmi theatre in Annur (near Coimbatore) has been identified as the source and the owner of the theatre was being apprehended immediately.
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FICCI Entertainment Conclave, in one of its earlier editions, had stated that the Tamil film industry suffers over 40 percent loss in revenue due to piracy. When questioned about it, Parthiban declared, “40 percent is a very small figure. I would say piracy eats up at least 60 percent of our income, leaving us with only 30 percent of the share. Piracy is a menace that has to be immediately done away with. I hope effective steps are taken immediately.
Recently, actor Vishal had also come out strongly against piracy, filing a complaint against a cable operator in Karaikudi for screening recent releases Un Samaiyal Araiyil and Vadacurry on a local channel.
Watch what Parthiban found in his raid at Burma Bazaar here.