Kerala Film Chamber to boycott Government theatres; Fewer than 10 films succeed this year; Theatre owners face severe crisis

The Kerala Film Chamber has said that out of 184 films released this year, fewer than ten have been successful. This has created a severe financial crisis for theatre owners. The Chamber explained that government theatres are struggling to survive and need urgent support.According to Reporter Live, the Chamber wants the government to remove entertainment tax collected by local bodies in addition to GST. They also demand special electricity tariffs for theatres.Other key demands include policies that support the film industry and make theatre operations sustainable. Reportedly, Minister Saji Cheriyan had promised discussions after a conclave, but no talks have happened yet. The Chamber has announced that it will boycott government-owned theatres under the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC). Films will not be provided for screening in these theatres starting from January. The Chamber will also stay away from all government-related film events from the same time. Chamber president Anil Thomas said in a press conference the current boycott is a warning protest. He added that if their demands are ignored, the Chamber is ready to take stronger action. The Chamber also pointed out that the film industry contributes a large amount of tax revenue, but the government has ignored the needs of this sector for over ten years.Government-owned theatres are spread across the state, and many depend on regular film releases. If the boycott continues, it will seriously affect the operations of these theatres. This, in turn, will impact the revenue of KSFDC.Despite the current issues, it's a fact that the Malayalam film industry has changed a lot. In an exclusive interview with ETimes, the 'Hridayam' actor Kalesh Ramanand said, "The Malayalam film industry has changed a lot and is now focusing on its content rather than any other factors."Speaking more about the COVID time issues, the actor said, "If the Malayalam film industry has found its power to withstand COVID or any other issues, then it’s surely due to its content." From Kalesh's words, it's sure that Malayalam film industry can be back to form with more quality and less quantity each year.