2018 OTT release: Kerala theatres allege breach of contract, to go on strike for 2 days, tickets to be refunded

Theatres under FEUOK will be shut on June 7 and 8 as a sign of protest against producers signing pre-release OTT deals

2018 poster

Kerala film exhibitors have decided to shut theatres for two days, to protest producers signing pre-release OTT deals and not sticking to the contract initially agreed with theatre owners. The move by Film Exhibitors United Organisation of Kerala’s (FEUOK) comes on the eve of Malayalam blockbuster 2018’s OTT release.

FEUOK members alleged that the producers of recent movies, including Jude Anthany Joseph’s 2018, keep breaching the contract signed with theatres that state that the movie’s OTT release will only be after 42 days of its theatrical release. 2018, which has become the highest-grossing Malayalam movie with worldwide gross of Rs 175 crore, was released in cinema halls on May 5 and will be premiering on Sony LIV on June 7 – 33 days after its theatrical release.

Also read: 2018's OTT release ruined its chance of becoming the first ever Malayalam film to gross Rs 200 Cr: FEUOK president

The theatre exhibitors have also decided to refund the amount for tickets booked by the audience on June 7 and June 8. Earlier in the day, in an exclusive interview with OTTplay, FEUOK president K Vijayakumar told us, “The only leeway we would be showing is that we will be playing the movie in theatres till it releases on OTT. So, after the second show on June 6, we will stop playing it in theatres across Kerala.”

The film, starring Tovino Thomas, Asif Ali and Kunchacko Boban, had a few housefull shows the past weekend too. The movie’s success also proved to be a boon for theatre owners, with FEUOK president saying that it helped clear a lot of liabilities that has been piling up the past few months that saw only three Malayalam movies – Malikappuram, Romancham and Pachuvm Atbutha Vilakkum - becoming hits among the 100 movies that released this year.

Also read: 2018 director Jude Anthany Joseph on Sony LIV's feedback after picking up its OTT rights

Last month, theatre owners had also requested Akhil Sathyan, the director and co-producer of Fahadh Faasil’s Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum, to delay its OTT release which was scheduled for May 26 on Amazon Prime Video – a month after it hit theatres. The movie, much like 2018, also had housefull shows in its final weekend.

Vijayakumar also said that by releasing a movie like 2018 on OTT even while its going strong in theatres, the producer denied its cast and crew an opportunity to “be part of a Rs 200 crore film and also a movie that would have had a 100-day run in theatres”.

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Meanwhile, the next Malayalam release is scheduled on June 9 – Ranjan Pramod’s O Baby.

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