FEUOK lifts ban on 'Kantara: Chapter 1' release in Kerala

The Film Exhibitors Union of Kerala (FEUOK) has lifted its ban on the release of the upcoming big-budget Kannada movie ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’. This reversal comes just two days after the ban was imposed, following a dispute wherein Prithviraj Productions—the distributor of the film in Kerala—demanded a 55 per cent share of box office collections during the first two weeks of release.

FEUOK president K Vijayakumar had earlier maintained that it was impossible to provide 55 per cent of the share from collections in the first two weeks as it violates the terms and conditions between the exhibitors and distributors in Kerala. He had also maintained that they had given an exemption during the Covid pandemic.

As per recent discussions, FEUOK has agreed to screen the movie in theatres and allow the distributors to take 55 per cent profit from the film collections in the first week alone, while they will only get 50 per cent share of the collections from the second week, as per the existing terms and conditions.

Vijayakumar had also alleged that Malayalam producers only receive 30 to 40 per cent of the share, when Mollywood movies are distributed outside the state, but some big productions in Kerala become unrealistic with their demands in Kerala.