The Tamil Film Producers' Council has decided to release big budget films only five times a year, so that movies produced at lower costs will also get collections in cinema halls. The decision is expected to benefit 300-odd small budget films made in 2011 that are lying in the cans.

A resolution in this regard was passed at a meeting of the Council in Chennai on Tuesday. 'We have zeroed in on five days when these films can be released — Pongal, Tamil New Year, May Day, Independence Day and Deepavali,” said S A Chandrasekaran, president of TFPC.

Chandrasekaran said that out of the 100 films produced every year, only 8 per cent are big budget movies that are easily financed, distributed and exhibited. 'The remaining 92 per cent are low budget ones that are struggling. They do not even get a theatre to screen their films,' he said. 

Another request made by the office bearers of the council was that any actor or technician, who draws a remuneration of over Rs 10 lakh, should take a salary cut so that the production cost would come down.