Shivarajkumar's Om now out on DVD!

It has taken 20 years, but it is finally here. The DVD of the iconic film Om, directed by Upendra and starring Shivarajkumar, has hit the market on August 19. The film also premiered on television for the first time last week.The film has the unique distinction of being re-released in theatres over 500 times since it was first released in 1995. Earlier this year, the film was released in around 100 screens after its music was digitally upgraded.Fans waited for years for the film's DVD. But the film faces its toughest battle yet. It is considered the only film whose pirated video is not found. But the market fears the worst.
The DVD and video CDs of the film have been priced at Rs 125 and Rs 59 respectively, a premium reserved for new films. Ratan Roy of Sri Ganesh Video, who has released it, said, "We released it on Wednesday and the demand is good. In fact, it is the only film whose DVD is in demand now. We will know for certain how good the demand is in about a week. But it is a gem." ,Roy who has released 1,500 Kannada film videos, says the overall market is not good. "Nobody in the industry is taking note of piracy. Pirated CDs are being sold on footpaths. Om may be the last film which may get some traction. I do not see any profit in releasing films on DVD and CDs hereafter." Sources said only 12,000 video DVDs and CDs of Om have been released in the market.
Mohan Chabria of Anand Videos, said, "The DVD and CD market is in a coma. It will certainly die in about a year. I have been in the industry since 1984 and started my company in 1999. The cassettes were the best thing to happen and the CDs the worst for the industry.First the small stores died and now even the big music and video stores are closing shop. In the heydays I used to sell 500 cassettes of the audio story of Sampattige Saval. Now, even music of new films are not selling that many. Once music went off the shelves and into the digital space, videos also lost their place. Music of some films like Premaloka and Yajamanasold in the millions. Their videos sold in lakhs. Now, even music CDs do not sell in thousands." In the last two years only a handful of Kannada video DVDs have made good business.These include Yash's films like Raja Huli, Gajakesari, Googly, Shivarajkumar's Bhajarangiand Sharan's Adyaksha. Yash's films continue to be in demand but even they do not fetch producers much. The biggest Kannada hit in years, Mr & Mrs Ramachari is said to have fetched only Rs 18 lakh in DVD rights. The film's DVD will be released later this month.