Is it a move to corner Antony Perumbavoor? Kerala Film Chamber clarifies...

Kochi: The Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce has clarified that the decision to obtain prior permission for films releasing after March 25 is aimed at avoiding legal complications in the wake of the film strike announcement.

As the apex body, the Chamber has informed all affiliated organisations about the decision, said Chamber general secretary Saji Nanthyattu. He added that all other interpretations were baseless and did not warrant a response.

“There is no change in the proposed token strike, and the Chamber meeting on March 5 will finalise the date,” he said. If ongoing discussions with the government and the actors' association 'AMMA' yield favourable outcomes, the indefinite strike planned for June will be withdrawn. The stance of theatre owners will also play a crucial role in the decision.

The Chamber had earlier sent letters to distributors, theatre owners and producers, directing them to obtain permission before signing contracts for films scheduled to release after March 25. The move comes as producer Antony Perumbavoor's big-budget Mohanlal-starrer Empuraan is set to hit screens on March 27. The decision was interpreted as an attempt to corner Antony Perumbavoor, who had taken a public stand against the producers' association.