There seems to be no end to the crisis in the Malayalam film industry over the issue of revenue sharing among the exhibitors’ federation on one side and producers and distributors on the other.
From Thursday, over 360 cinema halls affiliated to the Kerala Film Exhibitors’ Federation, the combine of A-class cinemas in the State, will remain closed demanding a higher revenue share.
The exhibitors are demanding 50 per cent of the earnings in the first week of release, instead of the existing 40 per cent.
P.V. Basheer Ahamed, president of the federation, said that they had no other option but to close down the cinemas after the producers and distributors took an adamant stance on increasing the revenue share.
“The decision will also affect the release of other-language movies in the State. We are not in a position to release these movies owing to the threat from certain youth wing organisations.
Unrelenting stance
With producers and distributors also not relenting to our demands, all the cinemas under the federation will down shutters from January 12 indefinitely,” he said.
The Kerala Film Producers Association had toughened its stance after it decided on Saturday to release new Malayalam films in cinemas apart from those owned by members of federation.
