KOCHI: Though the crisis that Mollywood was facing for the last one month was resolved on Saturday with the formation of a new Association for Exhibitors, controversies are yet to die down completely.
The latest is a contradictory remark by Sophia Paul, producer of Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol (MVT), on the new release schedule of four major movies that were
earlier slated for a 2016 Christmas release.
The release of MVT, Jomonte Suvisheshangal, Fukri and Esra were stalled because of the Exhibitors strike.
The new office-bearers of the Exhibitors Association had decided to re-schedule the release of the movies, one a week from January 19 onwards. They wanted to give each film that had suffered due to the strike, a one-week free run. As per that decision, MVT was scheduled for a January 26 release.
But posting against the decision on her Facebook page on Sunday, Sophia Paul said Mohanlal-starrer ‘Munthirivallikal ...’ will have a January 20 release.
“My movie Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol is being released on January 20. A lot of fake news have been spreading around the media that the release will be on January 26. It is a false news !! Our release date January 20 is confirmed and there will be no changes to this date,” Sophia posted.
As per the new schedule, it is Dulquer- starrer Jomonte Suvisheshangal that will hit the screens on January 19. No other relapses are scheduled for that week. But the same is not the case for MVT as some Bollywood and Kollywood biggies including SRK’s Raeez and Surya’s Singham 3 are scheduled for a January 26 release.
This will force MVT to face tough competition, especially in multiplexes where Hindi and Tamil movies have a good fan following.
Distributor’s Association president Ziyad Koker said they would hold a discussion with the MVT producer on Monday. “MVT’s release date was decided upon after discussing it with the director and the production controller, who attended the meeting on Saturday. But now Sophia Paul demands a change. We respect her demand as a producer and will consider the request. That is why we have convened the meeting on Monday,” Koker said.