The move comes after the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce on Monday, 24 February, warned of action against Antony Perumbavoor if he does not remove his Facebook.
Published Feb 27, 2025 | 11:54 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 27, 2025 | 11:54 AM
'Empuraan' producer Antony Perumbavoor. (Facebook)
Producer Antony Prembavoor has now deleted his Facebook post criticising Kerala Film Producers’ Association (KFPA) vice president, G Suresh Kumar.
The move comes after the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce on Monday, 24 February, warned of action against Antony Perumbavoor if he does not remove his Facebook.
The controversy started after the KFPA earlier this month called for an industry-wide strike starting on 1 June.
Responding to the strike call, in a Facebook post last week, the Empuraan producer raised concerns about whether the strike call was made under pressure from other film associations. Antony further pointed out that the Producers Association, headed by Anto Joseph, had not responded to Suresh Kumar’s strike call and emphasized the need for clarity on the matter.
In his now-deleted message, Antony questioned how Suresh Kumar could comment on films that had previously grossed ₹100 crore.
Antony further stated that last year was a good one for Malayalam cinema and that the strike call based on January’s data was unfounded. He also highlighted that in other film industries, the ₹50 crore, ₹100 crore, and ₹200 crore milestones are based on a movie’s total collection across all revenue streams.
Antony questioned how Suresh Kumar could claim that the association would ban films produced by certain actors or technicians, calling it unrealistic.
Regarding his movie Empuraan and the production cost revealed by Suresh Kumar, Antony argued that it was unfair to disclose the budget of a film still in post-production. He expressed disappointment overhearing such statements from a senior producer like Suresh Kumar, especially when the entire team was working hard to ensure the film has pan-Indian appeal.
In a press conference on Monday, the KFPA announced a token strike for one day, raising several demands, including a reduction in actors’ remuneration. While the date has not yet been confirmed, it will reportedly be on 27 March— the release date of Mohanlal’s L2: Empuraan.
In what appears to be an attack on Empuraan and its producer Antony Perumbavoor, another new move on Wednesday, 26 February, mandates that films released after 25 March must seek permission from the Film Chamber before signing contracts. This has received full support from the FEUOK, with the Chamber justifying its action as a “legitimate demand” and claiming backing from several other organizations.
