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        Just a few years ago, the Kollywood was in total disarray with several flops and the number of producers fast decreasing.

        Call it a miracle, today the industry has managed a turn around with an increase in number of corporates evincing interest to churn out movies, widening business markets and slew of concessions to Tamil film industry by the State government.

        Though Kollywood churned out the maximum number of movies in the country, it could not leave an impact on the audience until recently. Post- Sivaji, the scene underwent a dramatic change and today, the Tamil movies were seen with awe and admiration by people all across the country.

        Rajnikanth-starrer Sivaji set the ball rolling. The big budget movie was released in over 850 screens all across the globe and even in countries where Tamil movies were never opened in theatres before, Sivaji managed to run to packed houses. Now there are demands for release of Tamil movies in northern States, Far- East countries and even in the West.

        Prominent corporate giants like Pyramid Saimira, Adlabs, UTV, GV Films, Midvalley Corporation, Moser Baer, Varma Corporation and Aynkaran International are keen on producing Tamil movies.

        Also the business market has expanded. Unlike earlier days, the Tamil movies today have prospective buyers in countries including Australia, USA, Europe and in several Asian countries including Japan.

        Says Rama Narayanan, president, Tamil film Producers Council: 'The industry is witnessing a healthy trend specially after a slew of concessions including tax exemption announced by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. The business has increased manifold and correspondingly the budget too. Films rich in content and technical brilliance are being churned out here'.

        Mushrooming growth of television channels has ensured good returns to the producers in the form of satellite rights for their movies. The audio market, which was facing an challenge from the pirates, has heaved a sigh of relief after the entry of corporate firms like Nag Ravi's Insight Media.

        Another fresh avenue for the producers to make some money is the ringtone downloads. Cellular companies are ready to pay hefty sums to obtain the download ringtone rights of the songs in Tamil movies. Also popular commercial brands are associated with movies in its promotion fetching more revenue for the producers.

        According to a producer, 'obtaining loans from banks to produce films is not a difficult job these days. It has helped to keep anti-socials and greedy money-lenders away from the business.'

        Says a prominent distributor: 'The success of films like Kadhal, Paruthiveeran, Mozhi, Veyyil and Imsai Arasan has brought a fresh lease of life to Tamil cinema. The fact that they were screened at the coveted Cannes Film Festivals goes to prove their increasing influence in abroad too. For now, the going is really good. Hopefully, producers and directors utilise the opportunity and come up wth more quality movies rather than cliches'.