Malayalam film industry at war ahead of mega stage show

The stage is set for a mega tragedy in real life for the Malayalam film industry, with actors, technicians and producers at war with each other over a stage show being organised by a private television channel on March 7.

If the characters in this doomsday script do not retract on their respective postures the industry will be set for a shake-up like never before, say film industry observers here.

At the root of the problem is the feeling of the producers, represented by the Kerala Film Chamber, that television is a major reason for the current gloom in the mainline film industry, and that the actors' participation in shows promoted by private parties adds to the problem by drawing people away from theatres to such shows.

That view is directly countered by the artistes, represented by the Association of Malayalam Movie Actors (AMMA), which feels that if films are bombing at the box office, television alone cannot be held responsible.

AMMA member Jagadeesh, for instance, points out that the general public has varied interests and rightly opt to watch what they prefer, be it a movie, a TV serial, a stage show, or even a cricket match.

Another player in the on-going internal bickering in the industry, MACTA (Malayalam Cine Technicians Association), started out as a peace broker between the Film Chamber and AMMA, but has only ended up earning the wrath of both sides.

All eyes in the industry are now focussed on the stage show being organised on March 7 by Asianet, in which top Malayalam film stars are expected to participate. The Film Chamber has warned that artistes participating in the show can carry on home from there and forget about a career in films thereafter.

The AMMA feels that is unfair, given the fact that many of them have made travel plans for the show, some of them even flying into the country from abroad to participate in the show.

More than that, they point out, AMMA members have already signed contracts for the performance on March 7, and a violation of the contract can land them in expensive litigation and even monetary loss.

The face-off looks destined to blow up, with neither of the parties showing any intention of going back on their stand. AMMA official Mohanlal yesterday appeared to ease the tension when he stated that he believed that the matter would be solved amicably.

"After all the people involved are those who have known each other for years together", he said, adding that the statements made against AMMA were probably only a case of emotions overflowing. But he also stated that AMMA was not planning to go back on its commitment, giving an indication that no solution to the problem was in sight.

Interestingly, each of the players involved insist that their stance is directed at the betterment of the prospects of the film industry. But if their statements keep going at a tangent and the issue is not resolved before March 7, the Malayalam film industry would be entering a new phase. In all probability, that would be a tear-jerker unlike any that the industry has turned out so far.