FEUOK stands firm against releasing new Malayalam films in theatres from 23 February

According to Vijayakumar, producers initially used to pay the Virtual Print Fee (VPF). The VPF is an amount given to content providers such as Qube, UFO and TSR by producers. This amount is given for facilitating the process, including uploading the content to servers and screening of films in theatres. But now, they asked the theatre owners to bear the amount, which will only burden the latter.

After the digitalisation of cinema, buying a new digital projector became expensive. A projector costs around ₹50 lakh now.

“Old projectors used to cost only ₹2 lakh. Digital content providers such as Qube, PXD, and UFO are supplying digital projectors to theatres on a rental basis. In Kerala, 99 percent of theatres follow this system,” Vijayakumar explained.

The FEUOK President averred that exhibitors were not being allowed to have projectors of their choice.

“Six members of the producer association have formed a new content mastering unit, where they are also making digital prints of new films. When the unit was launched, it was said only newly-built theatres would have to take content (films) from the company. But now, they are insisting that renovated theatres too must buy content from them,” Vijaykumar pointed out.

He elucidated that the content provided by the new content mastering unit is not compatible with all projectors. As a result, the theatres will be forced to buy expensive digital projectors.

When asked if any theatres were banned by the KFPA, Vijayakumar pointed out that a couple of new theatres in small towns like Payyanur, Kalpetta, and Paripally refused to get the digital prints from the new content mastering unit and hence were banned.

Also Read: FEOUK decides against screening new Malayalam films in Kerala theatres from next week

Theatres in small towns already banned: FEOUK

Vijayakumar revealed that 65 theatres in Kerala that are screening films via producers’ content have been blackmailed by the new company.

He alleged that a new multiplex in a shopping mall in Kozhikode is not operational as the content mastering unit demanded it takes content from it and buys suitable projectors.

He also wondered why the new company was not threatening the corporate multiplexes.

Theatres that are currently under renovation, too, are staring at a ban by the KFPA. This situation is certainly not good for single-screen theatres as they are already struggling to survive, Vijaykumar pointed out.

Further, he alleged that producer Siyad Koker has been making unwanted remarks about FEUOK in online interviews.

When asked why Manjummal Boys, releasing on 22 February, is spared from the protest, Vijayakumar said they have a “commitment” with the film producer Babu Shahir.

Interestingly, Marivillin Gopurangal produced by Siyad Koker is slated for release in theatres the next day.