Asif Ali's 'Rekhachithram' is the only profitable venture in January 2025 as Mollywood faces crisis

All film shoots and screenings are set to be suspended indefinitely from June 1 as various film bodies have called for a strike. The Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce, along with other industry representatives, announced the decision, citing the severe financial crisis faced by producers and distributors due to high entertainment tax and the soaring remuneration of actors.


In a recent press conference, G Suresh Kumar, the president of the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce, stated that despite repeated pleas, the government has not taken any action to address their concerns. He highlighted that producers are struggling under the weight of double taxation, with both entertainment tax and GST affecting the industry. Kumar further pointed out that nearly 60 percent of a film’s budget is spent on actors’ remuneration, which has worsened the financial crisis.



According to On Manorama, the industry reportedly suffered losses exceeding Rs 100 crore in January alone, with only ‘Rekhachithram’ managing to make a profitable return out of the 28 releases that month. The producers’ association has also warned of stringent measures against actors who continue to demand high fees. They have even threatened to publicly disclose the remuneration of top stars if the issue remains unresolved.

Reportedly, the film bodies are now planning to meet Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other concerned ministers with a memorandum to seek immediate intervention.

Meanwhile, ‘Rekhachithram’ has earned 3.5 stars out of 5 from ETimes and our exclusive review reads, “The second half is where the film takes the audience on a nostalgic ride. There is plenty of creative liberty taken by the writer, bringing in Kaathodu Kathoram elements into the film, creating an alternate history in a sense. As much as seeing a young Mammootty on screen is appreciated, a little less fanboyism would have helped to stick to the levity of the plot. The recreation of the sets in the 80s was done well. Interlinking the story with instances from old films has worked, too. At least it didn't feel out of place. Ramu Sunil, who is also the writer, and John Manthrickal have made a screenplay that's engaging and subtle enough. However, the dialogues were a little off in some places. It is very rare for a Malayalam film to explore problematic relationships where people mutually equip each other's toxicity, even if it's just touched upon. Manoj K. Jayan and Zarin Shihab played their roles in a grounded and believable manner. Asif Ali has delivered a clean, subtle performance that suits the tone of the film.”
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