Industry insiders believe this year's Onam releases generated less buzz due to Malayalam cinema's "dented image" following the findings of the Justice Hema Committee Report. However, there are varied opinions on this.
Published Sep 11, 2024 | 6:53 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 11, 2024 | 6:53 PM
MeToo movement in Mollywood and its likely impact on Onam releases. (iStock)
Four major Malayalam movies are gearing up for release this Onam amid the ongoing MeToo movement, following the publication of the Justice Hema Committee Report.
Of the four releases, Tovino Thomas’s Ajayante Randam Moshanam is the most anticipated movie. According to the actor, it’s made on a budget of ₹30 crore.
Industry sources noted that there’s no hype for this 3D venture though the full-swing promotions are underway across South India. Ajayante Randam Moshanam will be released worldwide on 12 September in multiple languages, including English and Spanish, with subtitles in almost 50 languages.
Asif Ali’s Kishkindha Kaandam is releasing the same day as the Tovino Thomas-starrer. The Malayalam movie gained momentum after the launch of its trailer, which hinted at an investigative thriller with a unique plot.
Antony Varghese Pepe’s Kondal is touted to be an action entertainer. The film is drawing high expectations as Pepe is known for action movies.
Director Omar Lulu‘s Bad Boyz is a comedy entertainer, featuring Rahman, Dhyan Sreenivasan, Babu Antony, Saiju Kurup, and Tini Tom in major roles. Kondal and Bad Boyz are hitting the screens on 13 September.
Interestingly, unlike the previous year, the Onam 2024 releases have generated less buzz, and industry insiders attribute the reason to Mollywood’s “dented image” in the wake of the Metoo movement.
They believe the sexual assault charges made against senior actors, filmmakers and technicians will all likely have an impact on the business in Malayalam cinema this festive season.
Justice K Hema Committee submits its report to Kerala Chief Minsiter Pinarayi Vijayan. (X)
Additionally, they pointed to the silence of veteran actors Mohanlal and Mammootty over the Justice Hema Committee Report’s findings, which baffled their fans and film enthusiasts alike.
The redacted version of the report exposed pervasive issues like gender discrimination, unequal pay, casting couch, and exploitation of women in Malayalam cinema.
Mohanlal recently broke his silence, though, stating that the recent events should not harm the industry. He also noted that 2024 had been a good year for Malayalam cinema and the momentum must continue.
Mammootty, too, echoed similar concerns and stressed that the Malayalam film industry must survive.
Amid these dire circumstances, scriptwriter-director PS Arjun believes the report’s findings and the MeToo movement might affect the business of Onam releases. “From a business perspective, movie promotions have not been carried out in full swing since the Justice Hema Committee Report’s release. The media and the public are all discussing sex scandals and gossip instead of films,” he told South First.
Arjun noted that the OTT deals of the forthcoming festive releases might also suffer since the digital streaming platforms usually don’t back projects involving actors or directors facing sexual harassment charges.
The young writer-filmmaker, however, hopes that those demanding “adjustments” and “compromises” from female actors by offering money or roles might stop doing so, at least temporarily.
Onam is a major festive season in the Malayalam film industry. Most movies target the family audience since the long vacation period promises good collections.
A Kochi-based theatre owner told South First that they have high hopes for Onam releases this year, too. While expressing his disappointment over the underwhelming performance of Vijay’s GOAT in Kerala, he hoped that the upcoming Malayalam movies would mint money at the box office.
Another exhibitor from the city mentioned that neither the report nor the Metoo movement has affected the theatrical business and oozed confidence about the Onam releases. “If there are good films with solid content, people will flock to the theatres. It’s just that there aren’t any great movies presently, except for Nunakuzhi and Vaazha,” he told South First.
A film critic, on the condition of anonymity, chimed in. He told South First that it cannot be construed that audiences are avoiding theatres because of the report’s findings since Vaazha and Nunakuzhi continue to perform well at the box office.
Nevertheless, a renowned producer South First spoke with described the sex scandals and harassment as a blot on Mollywood’s image. He said this dark side of the industry will all likely affect the business of the Onam releases.
KFPA Vice-President G Suresh Kumar. (Wikimedia)
Meanwhile, the representatives of the Kerala Film Producers Association (KFPA) and the Film Chamber have raised concerns about the financial burden caused by dual taxation.
G Suresh Kumar, the Vice-President of KFPA, averred that Malayalam film producers are struggling due to a severe financial crunch. He said they have been urging the state government to remove the entertainment tax and also voiced concerns over the excessive remunerations demanded by actors.
Further, Suresh Kumar disclosed that the producers have also sought bank support for film financing.
The KFPA recently wrote to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, stating that gender pay parity cannot be solved in a creative field like cinema.
“The idea of equal pay for women and men in creative roles like acting, directing, screenplay writing, cinematography, and editing is impractical. Pay in these fields is determined by market value and creative excellence, and is entirely at the producer’s discretion,” the letter read.
In addition, the organisation pointed out that equal pay for men and women in art, makeup, costume, and dubbing has already been in place for several years. “There can be no reservation for women in the industry and their entry must be organic,” the letter added.
Further, the KFPA mentioned that the Justice Hema Committee’s recommendation to form an independent tribunal to resolve complaints is unclear, as Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) are already functional on film sets.
In the first half of 2024, Malayalam cinema saw major hits like Manjummel Boys, Premalu, Bramayugam, Aavesham, Aadujeevitham, Turbo, Guruvayoor Ambala Nadayil, and Thalavan. These films made a business worth over ₹700 crore in Malayalam cinema.
However, after May, there weren’t any superhits. Films like Grrr, Ullozhukku, Gaganachari, and Level Cross received warm responses from audiences and critics alike, though.
Adios Amigo, Bharathanatyam, Footage, Nunakuzhi, and Vaazha—released in August—came as a breather for the exhibitors. Director Anand Menen’s Vaazha became a sensational hit and is still running to packed houses, earning more than ₹40 crore as of 6 September.
Nevertheless, following the recent events, Mohanlal’s directorial debut Barroz—initially slated for release on 3 October—has been postponed. Similarly, it remains unclear when Mammootty’s Bazooka will hit the marquee.
The Kerala High Court criticised the state government for its inaction on the Hema Committee report. (Facebook)
Meanwhile, the future of the Malayalam film industry looks uncertain, especially with the Kerala High Court’s intervention in the Justice Hema Committee Report.
A legal expert told South First that as the Hema Committee Report is now with the court, the government cannot remain passive. “If the special bench of the High Court orders the police to file an FIR based on any testimonial mentioned in the report, particularly involving top actors or prominent figures, they will face serious consequences.”
On Tuesday, 10 September, the special bench directed the Special Investigation Team to clarify whether any cognisable offences have been identified in the report and what actions can be taken.
The court also expressed deep shock at the Kerala government’s inaction on the Justice Hema Committee Report, despite it being filed in 2019.
The High Court observed that the report could lead to the registration of rape and POCSO cases. It also questioned the government’s claim that no grounds existed for filing any charges against the abusers in the Malayalam film industry.
With only a few hours left for the Onam releases to hit the theatres, let’s see what’s in store for Mollywood!
(Edited by Y Krishna Jyothi)
