Date:30/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/30/stories/2008093059290300.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Row over release of new films

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Representatives of Film Exhibitors Federation have demanded refund of advance collected from them for the making of Mamootty’s ‘Maya Bazar’ and Mohanlal’s ‘Kurukshetra’, if the producers went ahead with their decision to release the movies in maximum release stations in the State.

An emergency meeting of the federation held here on Monday also decided not to screen the movies, if the producers and distributors stuck to their earlier demand to increase the number of release centres for a new movie.

T. T. Baby, general secretary of the federation, said that the lead release centres in the State affiliated to the organisation would suffer losses once the number of release centres was increased.

He said that there was no justification for the stance taken by the producers and distributors, as the exhibitors under the federation had advanced more than Rs. 1crore for the production of Kurukshetra and Maya Bazar.

The federation representatives said that the concept of wide release of a new film would hit their revenues.

Cine exhibitors

Meanwhile, the Kerala Cine Exhibitors’ Association, which is the combine of ‘B’ and ‘C’ class theatres in the State, has decided to screen both Kurukshetra and Maya Bazar in maximum centres. Lesly Joseph, secretary of the association, said that the film Maya Bazar would be released in nearly 80 centres while the film Kurukshetra will be shown in about 60 cinema theatres under the association.