Leela faces ‘ban’ danger

Director Ranjith’s latest venture may not have a smooth release as producers’ body blacklists him

Mollywood’s penchant for imposing a ‘ban’ as a tool to settle scores is being tested again.

Noted filmmaker Ranjith is at the receiving end this time as the Kerala Film Producers Association has red-signalled the smooth release of his latest venture Leela . Interestingly, Ranjith is also producing the movie under his banner ‘Capitol Theatres’, which was behind movies like Njan , Pranchiyettan and the Saint , Bavootiyude Namathil , and Thirakatha .

Ranjith is facing flak from producers for not ‘co-operating’ with their recent strike against the wage hike demanded by the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA). He went ahead with the shooting despite pressure from the producers’ association and after agreeing to the federation’s proposal to increase the salary for the workers. Filmmaker Rajeev Ravi had also proceeded with the shoot of his movie

Kammattipadam , but later stopped it after his producers decided not to go on a collision course with the producers’ body. “Ranjith has not registered his movie

Leela with the producers’ association. Usually, cinemas screen movies after the association hands over a letter of clearance. We have not yet given our clearance for

Leela ,” said M. Renjith, general secretary of the Kerala Film Producers Association.

FEFKA general secretary B. Unnikrishnan extended full support to Ranjith stating that his organisation would ensure that

Leela reached theatres as scheduled. “We have already taken up the issue with the leadership of the producers’ association. FEFKA has requested them not to resort to any vindictive action,” he said.

P.V. Basheer Ahamed, president of the Kerala Film Exhibitors Federation, said they have nothing against Ranjith for not co-operating with the strike organised by the producers. “But we have another issue, as he is yet to settle about Rs. 45 lakh due to Vijayakumar of Seven Arts movies, which had distributed Bavoottiyude Namathil , a movie produced by Ranjith. As head of the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce, we stand with Mr. Vijayakumar on this issue and would go ahead and release Leela , if Ranjith settled the dues,” he said.

G. Krishnakumar