Controversy rips apart the industry

A new controversy in the Malayalam film industry has been evoked during this festival season of Ramzan, when Cine Exhibitors Federation (CEF), an organisation of 'A' class theatres in Kerala, took a different stand, which is quite unusual as well, about the movie releases in Ramzan.

'A' class theatre owners demanded that there should be restriction in number of releasing centers. They also insisted that there must be only 48 releasing centers in the state.

On the contrary, the Film producers association and B-C class theatre owners have decided to put off this unreasonable demand after a meeting convened on Thursday at Cochin. They warned that the movement to restrict releasing centers in the upcoming Ramzan season would be harmful to the solidarity in the film industry.

The controversy began when Cine Exhibitors Federation (CEF) gave a letter to Santhosh Damor, producer of Mohanlal starrer Kurukshetra, urging to obtain a 'No Objection Certificate' from the Federation if he wants to release the movie in more 48 centers.

However, the Film producers association cleared that the demand of CEF is the breach of contract signed last march, which allows any number of releasing centers in the state. Mammootty's Maya Bazaar, Mohanlal's Kurukshetra and Sureshgopi's Bullet are the major films scheduled for Ramzan.