South Indian film industry to go on strike from March 1

In a joint decision taken by the four South Indian film industries — Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu — theatres will be shut down from March 1 as producers and digital service providers lock horns over the high fees charged by the latter.

As films make a scramble for release on February 23, one big release is the multi-starrer, Kinar/Keni. This Tamil-Malayalam bilingual is directed by M.A. Nishad, known for his social dramas in Malayalam.

Nishad says his film is about the scarcity of water and is narrated in a non-linear manner through the different perspectives of three journalists.

“We must be conscious of this subject that is relevant today and in the future,” he added. Kinar was shot in a place 12km away from Tirunelveli. “That region had no rain for the past six years.”

Nishad is happy to have worked with an ensemble cast — Jayaprada, Revathi, Archana, Joy Mathews, Pasupathy, Parthipan and Nasser. “They did not act but behaved like their characters,” he says.

Jayachandran has composed music. Cinematography is by Noushad Sherif.

Kinar/Keni is produced by Sajeev P.K. and Ann P.K.