Thiruvananthapuram: The Federation of Exhibitors of Kerala (FEOUK), representing theatre owners across the state, has initiated a strike from today, announcing that no new Malayalam movies will hit the big screens in Kerala today onwards. This decision comes as a protest against what they perceive as unfair practices in the film industry, particularly concerning the early release of movies in over-the-top (OTT) platforms. The move has already led to the postponement of two Malayalam films slated for release today.
FEOUK’s stance is clear and they say that unless producers meet their demands, films will not be screened in any theatre affiliated with the association. One major point of contention is the requirement for producers to purchase their own projectors. According to FEOUK, the rising costs of projectors have become burdensome for theatre owners.
Moreover, FEOUK highlights the issue of OTT releases occurring too soon after theatrical releases. Currently, many films are being released on OTT platforms merely 20–30 days post-theatrical release, in violation of an existing agreement that allows newly released movies to stream on OTT platforms only after 40 days of their theatrical release.
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