KOCHI: Even as the strike in film industry continues, a section of distributors has alleged that the crisis is due to the autocratic attitude of Exhibitors Federation president Liberty Basheer. Strongly criticising Mr Basheer, Siyad Kokker, president of the Kerala Film Distributors Association said that a section of the theatre owners in the state are fraudsters. “Though a section of the exhibitors is working against the interests of the sector, a large number of them are not supporting Mr Basheer and wants an amicable settlement. However, they are reluctant to speak against the Federation president,” he alleged.
Those exhibitors who oppose the government’s proposal to appoint a judicial commission to study the issues in the sector are fraudsters, he added. “Apart from financial fraudulence, many exhibitors are also deceiving the local bodies.” It is the rift over revenue sharing between exhibitors and distributors which led to the crisis. Theatre owners demanded 50 percent of theatre revenue, which is not acceptable to the two other associations. “The four new Malayalam films, including that of superstar Mohanlal, will be released only after the revenue share for distributors and producers is increased,” added Mr Kokker.
