Image for representation onlyKottayam: With the formation of a new association of theater owners, the Kerala State Exhibitors’ Federation, a combine of the ‘A’ class theaters, is now left with no other option than withdrawing the ongoing strike as many of its members have chosen to cross over to the newly-constituted body.
It is learnt that a decision to call off the strike will be taken at the federation’s executive committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
The federation leaders are worried over the exodus of its members to the new association, which was established with the blessings of some of the major producers and distributors, sources said.
The industry is expected to witness more theater owners switching their loyalty with the releasing of Mohanlal-starrer Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol on January 18, and Sathyan Anthikad’s Jomonte Suviseshangal, the next day.
A section of theater owners had hinted that they were ready to unconditionally opt out of the strike if minister for cultural affairs A. K. Balan demanded so. However, the minister dashed their hopes after he refused to approach them with a request to call off the agitation. With chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan terming the strike ‘unnecessary’, it became obvious that the government was in no mood to budge from its stance.
The LDF leadership is also unhappy with the office-bearers of the federation for dragging the chief minister and CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan into the issue and misusing their names to push their case. A federation leader had made a false claim that he had held a meeting with the chief minister. In fact, the chief minister had refused to attend a meeting at Thalassery arranged by the same person, saying that such parleys were totally unnecessary since the government had assigned a minister to hold negotiations. Despite that being the case, the office-bearer of the federation attempted to create an impression that he had held discussions with the chief minister.
The raids conducted at theaters owned by the association leaders were seen as a move to drive home a message that the chief minister did not favor anyone.
During his meeting with Innocent MP, president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), minister Balan is learnt to have expressed his displeasure over the federation’s decision to go ahead with the stir. The huge financial loss incurred by the state exchequer due to the strike has also prompted the government to turn against the federation.
A group of federation leaders had contacted the theater owners, who wished to secede from the body by screening new Malayalam releases, to hold a discussion in the presence of Innocent. It is alleged that their plan was to delay the release of movies till Tuesday.
Innocent, who clarified that he had not intervened in the issue or agreed to attend the meeting, is annoyed by the devious move made by the federation.
A section of federation members was ready to end the strike if the government hiked the service charge for tickets by Rs 2. As there was no such proposal when they launched the agitation, the government categorically refused to meet their demand.
