The Hindu : Row between artistes, producers hots up

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 23, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Row between artistes, producers hots up

By N.J. Nair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, FEB. 22 . The stage is set for a confrontation between the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) and the Kerala Film Producers Association (KFPA), with the former deciding to go ahead with the award night and stage show in association with a private television channel, in Kochi on May 7.

The executive committee of the KFPA, which met in Kochi on Saturday, took stock of the developments and decided to take a firm stand against the members of AMMA if they conducted the show.

The AMMA executive had decided on Thursday last to adhere to its earlier decision to participate in the show.

According to the AMMA treasurer, Jagadish, the association now attached top priority to making the show a success. All arrangements had been made for the show and there was no question of backing out, he said. The association was willing to hold discussions with the producers, distributors and exhibitors and would favourably consider their demands, including slashing remuneration of artistes.

But the discussions can be held only after March 7, Mr. Jagadish said.

The KFPA president, B. Sasikumar, told The Hindu today that the meeting had been called mainly to discuss the alleged breach of contract by AMMA.

"We still hope that AMMA would change its decision in the larger interests of the industry.

"If they start the rehearsals during the first week of March, disrupting the shooting of ongoing films, we will have to think of taking extreme steps against the artistes," he said.

Mr. Sasikumar reiterated that the producers, distributors and exhibitors would boycott the members of AMMA if they refused to change their decision. The association has convened another meeting on March 3 to thrash out a strategy to face the crisis and also help its members who have made substantial investment in the films to be released during Vishu.

"The success of the film `4 The People', directed by Jayaraj, featuring new faces at the box-office has instilled confidence among the producers.

Now it has become obvious that the story is more significant than the names of the artistes," he said.

He accused AMMA of retracting from the pact signed with the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce two years ago that has provisions against its members appearing on stage and television shows.

AMMA had sought the permission of the chamber to participate in the award night on March 7 and the chamber had denied permission.

Instead of deciding to proceed with the preparations, the association should have initiated a dialogue with the chamber, he said.

Meanwhile, the Kerala Film Exhibitors Federation chairman, S. Chandran, said the fraternal organisations should come forward to settle the issue amicably.

No one would oppose a show conducted for a charitable purpose.

It was the repeated violation of the pact by the artistes that has brought the issue to a flashpoint.

The commercial shows are threatening the survival of the industry and hence there should be a meaningful discussion to avert the crisis, he said.

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