The dispute over wide releasing and classification of movie houses is taking a new turn with the Kerala Film Exhibitors Federation (KFEF) is mulling to move court for the first time to challenge the government’s decision to allot releasing centres only for the theatres having gold category status and above. The federation leaders also question the authority of the government to grade the theatres.

“We will move court if government goes with the decision to allot grading to movie halls. We will also question the validity of the grading system in court. No distribution company can give their films for wide releasing as they have collected huge amount as advance from select theatre owners.” said Liberty Basheer, KFEF president.

However, many organisations in the film industry pooh-poohs the KFEF plans to move to the court and also criticised the adamant attitude of federation leaders over the wide releasing and grading system.

They feel that there is difference of opinion within KFEF itself and many theatre owners under federation are supporting the wide releasing and classifications of theatres.

Theaters are classified on the basis of facilities, as platinum plus and platinum, gold, gold plus, silver and silver plus categories. Only 75 movie halls in the state have earned the status of releasing centres, being enlisted in gold category and above.

“I don’t know on what ground is the KFEF moving court opposing the wide releasing and grading system.

In the age of multiplexes, how can they expect audience to frequent theatres, which are not keeping the basic standards,” mocks Milan Jaleel, president, Kerala Film Producers Association.

Kerala Cine Exhibitor's Association, however, ridicules the federation’s autocratic attitude and says will fight a legal battle if the government fails to implement the wide releasing taking into account the grading of theatres