Ajith-starrer Billa 2 sold at record price

The Tamil Nadu theatrical distribution rights of the film Billa 2 have been sold to Aascar Ravichandran for upwards of Rs 26 crore, with Aascar spending on analogue and digital prints.

IN Entertainment (INE), a part of the Hinduja Group is presenting and producing the Ajith-starrer. It's CEO, Sunir Kheterpal,  said in a press statement, "There is huge interest amongst potential buyers for the Tamil Nadu theatrical rights of Billa 2. After having extensive discussions with several parties over the past four weeks, we decided to collaborate with Aascar based on their commitment on marketing spends and an ability to give the film a hassle-free, wide distribution release in Tamil Nadu. We are currently working on the plans for May."

The press statement also mentioned that all the distribution rights of the film, except the Kerala and Hindi dubbing rights have been sold at a record price of more than Rs 40 crore.

This makes Billa 2 Ajith's highest revenue generator and one of the top pre-release revenue generating films of all time in the Tamil film industry.

Billa 2, one of the most eagerly awaited films of 2012 is directed by Chakri Toleti.

Billa 2 is a prequel to Billa, and narrates how David became Billa.

In Andhra Pradesh, the film will release as David Billa -- The Beginning, but the original Tamil version will be released in Kerala and both the Tamil and the Telugu dubbed versions in Karnataka. In the rest of India and internationally, the film will have English sub-titles.

The film was shot over a period of 103 days in Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Goa, Mumbai and Kashid.

As Ajith won't attend any publicity functions, there will be a low key launch of the audio and the audio CDs will reach stores across Tamil Nadu on May 1, which is Ajith's birthday.