Film exhibitors’ body looks to end crisis

ALAPPUZHA: The Film Exhibitors’ Federation, which was not in a co-operative mood with the Competition Commission of India’s ordering wide-release of films – putting Ramzan films in jeopardy – is now looking for options to end the crisis.  

Basheer Ahamed, Federation President, is in fire-fighting mode. The Federation has called for an urgent meeting of its members on Saturday at Kochi to findsolution to the present imbroglio. Sources say the Federation faces heat from within.

“The meeting is expected to come to a decision to end the present situation. The decision will be made public after the meeting”, Mr Ahamed told Deccan Chronicle. However, he remained tight-lipped on whether the Federation would challenge the Competition Commission of India order in the appellate body.

‘A’ class cinemas were asked to close down by the Federation after the Kerala Film Producers' Association (KFPA) and Film Distributors Association jointly declared the wide release of films on Wednesday last.

Thus big budget Telugu movie Bahubali directed by S.S. Rajamouli was released in all theatres irrespective of classification.

They took the decision ignoring the diktat of the Federation, which has held the monopoly on releasing of movies over the years. Shaji Viswanath, Secretary, Cine Exhibitors’ Association, a combine of B and C class theaters which took the issue to the Commission, is very confident about the wide-release despite the non- cooperation of the Federation.  

“We have secured the commission verdict, which nobody can wish away. Several theaters under the Federation have now shown willingness to screen movies. Hopefully, we will screen ‘Bahubali’ in at least 200 theatres in two days. It seems there will be a split if the Federation continues to be defiant”, Mr Viswanath points out.  

Meanwhile, as many as five films including Mammootty starrer Acha Din, Deleep’s Love 24X7 and Lijo Jose Pellissery’s multi-starrer Double Barrel are slated for Ramzan release.   

About 380 ‘A’ class theatres across the state under the Federation have been closed down for the last two days in protest against the soft-peddling of the piracy of ‘Premam' by the government. This has resulted in the loss of collections on both ‘Premam’ and ‘Bahubali’.