KOCHI: As the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vinayan issued an ultimatum the Kerala Film Exhibitors Federation (KFEF), made a sudden announcement on Saturday that they were calling off the strike. Ruling out a a vertical split in the organisation of A class cinemas in the State, KFEF President Liberty Basheer said the decision was taken after the governments intervention. “ We are calling off the strike as the government has announced a date for discussion. If we continue the strike despite a statement from the Chief Minister, it would be as good as insulting him,” said Liberty Basheer.
“We would start screening movies from today,” he added. Chief Minister had said on Friday that the organization should withdraw the strike and attend the talks being convened by the government on January 25 to sort out various issues in the industry. Basheer said the new organization of theatre owners under the leadership of Dileep will not be a challenge to KFEF. “I don't think there will be a split in our organization. It is a 30 year old oraganisation which once had leaders including Ziayad Kokker who is now heading the distributors association,” he said.
The latest crisis in the Malayalam film industry started as the KFEF shutting down 353 A-class theatres under the organisation demanding a change in the sharing ratio of from the first week collection of Malayalam films between distributors and exhibitors.
The exhibitors wanted the ratio to be 50:50, instead of the present 60:40,which has been opposed by the producers. Earlier, Basheer had said KFEF will initiate action against those who violated the unanimous decision to close down the screens. However, there is an erosion in the membership of KFEF following the tough stand taken by the producers, distributors and prominent actors by drawing alternative methods to release the films.