PremiumExclusive! FEUOK president on ‘ban’ on Dulquer’s films: Let this be a warning to stars opting for OTT releases
The Kerala theatre exhibitors’ body had taken the decision to not screen any Dulquer Salmaan-starrers or films backed by the star’s production company Wayfarer Films, in response to the direct-to-OTT release of Salute, which was initially supposed to release in theatres
Last Updated: 07.57 PM, Mar 15, 2022
The Film Exhibitors United Organisation of Kerala (FEUOK) on Tuesday announced that they have taken a stand to not screen any film starring Dulquer Salmaan or those backed by the actor’s production company Wayfarer Films. The decision, FEUOK president K Vijayakumar tells OTTPlay, is because the actor has opted for a direct-to-OTT release for his upcoming film Salute in spite of signing a contract with theatre owners to exhibit the film in January.
The Rosshan Andrrews directorial, which was initially set to hit theatres on January 14 but was postponed due to the Omicron threat in the State, will now begin streaming on Sony LIV from March 18.
On FEUOK's decision, Vijayakumar tells us, “We have decided not to co-operate with Dulquer and his production company. It’s because he had signed a contract with theatre owners and then decided to release the movie on OTTs.” The official says that about 300 theatres in Kerala were willing to screen the film back in January.
While several films such as Mohanlal’s Bro Daddy and Manju Warrier’s Lalitham Sundaram too have opted for direct-to-OTT release of late, the official says, “Many films are releasing in OTTs and there’s nothing we can do about it legally. But in this case, Salute was set for a theatrical release and a contract was signed. And then without any prior intimation, it was announced that it will be an OTT release. That’s betraying the theatre exhibitors.”
Incidentally, it was Dulquer and Wayfarer Films’ Kurup that brought the audience back to theatres when they reopened after the second lockdown in November 2021, even when big films such as Mohanlal’s Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham had initially stayed away from a theatrical release due to the reduced 50% capacity that cinema halls had been operating back then. The film opened to a record number of screens in Kerala and set the ball rolling for the theatre owners last year.
Point this out and Vijayakumar says, “Absolutely. But we also provided maximum support to the film.” Ask him if this stance of FEUOK betrays the trust that the makers of Kurup had in theatres and he says, “But what about the support we gave them? See, Kerala’s theatre owners have gone through a strenuous time and bounced back. So, it’s the stars who have to support. We have played an undeniably huge role in where they are right now in their careers. Now, when they are selling all their films to OTTs, they are just showing us ingratitude.”
He also explains that FEUOK will be sticking hard to their stance. “Let Dulquer take all his films to OTTs. If stars think they can survive with just OTTs, then let them choose that route,” he says. Bring it up that the majority of films starring Mohanlal, Prithviraj Sukumaran and Fahadh Faasil too had opted for OTT releases in the past two years and Vijayakumar says, “As far as we are concerned, we don’t differentiate between Mohanlal or any other actor. If Mohanlal too continues to give his films to OTTs, there will be action against him too. This will apply to all actors and production houses supporting direct-to-OTT releases and let this be a warning.”
If Salute had from the get-go chosen an OTT release, FEUOK wouldn’t have reacted this way, says Vijayakumar. “Right now, when the owners of all these theatres that had signed the contract have questioned the body, we don’t have an answer,” he explains.
From the production side, there’s a genuine case of how much they can hold a movie for theatres for so long, especially during the pandemic. Dulquer’s Wayfarer Films did that with Kurup, Adi, Upacharapoorvam Gunda Jayan and Salute during the pandemic.
Ask Vijayakumar what the harm is when a movie such as Mammootty’s Bheeshma Parvam is still running to packed houses and a big release has made way for several other movies that were waiting to hit theatres, and he says, “Our protest is for selling the film to OTTs now, when theatres are running at 100% capacity. If it was done earlier, we wouldn’t have had a problem. So, what’s their justification to not release it in theatres?”
Considering that a body like FEUOK was established to foster democratic discussions between producers, distributors and exhibitors rather than enforce blanket ‘bans’ on actors and films, isn’t this stand sending out a negative message? “You shouldn’t see it as a ban, you should perceive it as an issue pertaining to the survival of Kerala’s theatres. Even when theatres are running at 100% capacity, there are only few stars in Malayalam who can increase the footfall. There are so many films that have vanished without even playing a single show. In such a scenario, stars should realise who elevated them to that stature and should also help us. That’s the reason we want their films to play in theatres. This is not a ban but a way of halting the flow to OTTs,” he says.