The Tinsel Town is already reeling under the heat of several films limping at the box office.

On top of that the stand off between the film producers and Multiplex owners is adding more cause for concern.

The countdown has begun as the producers have made it known that from April 4 no films are going to be released in Multiplexes.

Akshay Kumar’s forthcoming film ‘Tasveer 8 x 10’ will be last film to reach the multiplexes before the strike starts. The flick is to hit the big screens on April 3.

The problem that is left to be sorted out is regarding the altering of the revenue sharing method prevailing now.

The producers are asking for an equal share mechanism of the total money generated and the Multiplex owners are not letting that happen.

At present the share cornered by the Multiplexes are more than 50%.

Mukesh Bhatt who is the chairman of the United Producers Forum says,

“Until the Multiplexes agree to the demands proposed by the producers and distributors, the marketing and distribution of all new films set for release from April 4 has been suspended. It is a do or die situation for us. We have to survive in the industry and so we have been asking for an equal revenue sharing model”.

He also added “We spent crores of rupees for making and distributing the movie, that too with a huge risk. The multiplexes just have to release it. They earn revenue from various sources like canteen, parking and advertising among others. Even then, they have been demanding more revenue share”.

It is reported that around 24 top film makers have decided not to release their films from April 9.

And this can result in the film industry loosing up to Rs.300 crore in the next three or four months.

On the opposite side, the Multiplex owners have completely rejected the fixed revenue sharing method proposed by the producers.

Instead they are urging for a performance linked revenue system.

They say that the film industry is not considering the profits Multiplexes have created for them.

They are claiming that in 2004- 05, multiplexes contributed almost 50% of the total money made in the film industry and this increased to around 70% in the year 2008.

The theatre owners are also saying that they are ready to pay the producers and distributors more if they get good films that can be super-hits.