Malayalam directors’ union opposes industry shutdown, urges dialogue

The Malayalam film directors’ union has passed a resolution opposing the proposed shutdown of the film industry from June 1.

The resolution, introduced by director Anwar Rasheed and supported by director Blessy, reportedly received backing from nearly 450 members of the union. The directors have urged the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) to intervene and initiate discussions with producers to find a resolution.

Expressing deep concern over the potential crisis, G.S. Vijayan, General Secretary of the directors’ union, emphasised the severe impact a shutdown would have on industry workers. “If film production halts, thousands of people depending on the industry will face severe financial distress. Our primary concern is for these workers and their families. We hope to avoid such a scenario,” he told TNM.

The call for a shutdown was first made on February 6 by producer G. Suresh Kumar, citing severe financial challenges in the industry. He stated that Malayalam cinema has suffered losses of around Rs 700 crore, primarily due to exorbitant remunerations demanded by top actors and technicians, as well as the entertainment tax imposed by the government.

According to Kumar, out of 200 films released last year, only 24 were commercially successful, with the remaining incurring massive losses. He also pointed out that previous efforts to negotiate lower remuneration with actors had failed to yield results.

The directors’ union, however, believes that the issue of high actor remuneration is an ongoing one and should be addressed directly between producers and actors. “Actors have the right to decide their fees, and producers must accordingly plan their budgets. This is a discussion that needs to happen between them. Our priority is to safeguard the livelihood of thousands of other workers in the industry,” Vijayan stated.