KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 23): "Jagat", a locally-made Tamil movie that has received critical acclaim since its release last week, is being denied its rightful screening time in local cinemas, its producer said today.

Siva Perianan said he was disappointed with the situation and was hoping for Filem Nasional (Finas) to intervene.

Finas rules state that cinemas must comply with a "wajib tayang" (compulsory screening) of at least 14 days for local movies.

"Some cinema operators' action in reducing the number of screenings per day for 'Jagat', from five per day to three per day despite the movie getting good response from movie fans, is killing the local Tamil film industry," Siva said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

He added that there also seemed to a "loop hole" in the compulsory screening rule with cinema operators preferring to have multiple screenings of the movie during the day, when most moviegoers prefer to watch movies at night, thus affecting the takings at the box-office.

Siva said the cinema operators were not denying their actions, with some of them claiming that there was a higher demand for foreign films compared with local ones.

"Jagat" was released last Thursday, Dec 17, and has gained some popularity following positive reviews in the media.

However, it now has to contend with three "heavyweight" movie released in the same period - namely, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens", "Dilwale" (starring Shah Rukh Khan) and "Thanga Magan" (starring Dhanush).

"Jagat" director, Shanjhey Kumar Perumal, said he did not blame the competition from foreign films, but saw the problem as one of local cinema operators not supporting the local film industry.

"Local Tamil films have their own group of followers, hence the release of foreign films should not be used as an excuse to reduce the number of screens on which 'Jagat' is shown."

Siva said he feared the cinemas might drop the movie altogether even though it had not completed its compulsory screening period.

"What we see is that there is no compliance whatsoever towards the rule and how local movies should be given their rightful time. Cinema operators just do what they want.

"Hence, we want Finas to intervene and review their own rule on compulsory screening to ensure that it is complied with by the cinema operators."

He added that the movie had done reasonably well, taking in RM72,000 in its first four days, despite the awkward hours of its screening and limited number of screens.

"Jagat" is a tale based on the plight of Indian Malaysians from the estates who are forced to move to squatters, on the outskirts of towns and cities, following the closure of plantations, in the early 1990s.

It is a different kind of local Tamil movie, that depicts the reality of the situation that existed then and possibly even till today, with families living in poverty but doing their best to make ends meet and get their children the education they hope will take the next generation out of the squatters they have been living in.

Since it was released, "Jagat" has been screened in 20 cinemas nationwide.