PremiumFEUOK revokes ‘ban’ on Dulquer Salmaan after his production company’s explanation on Salute’s OTT release
The theatre exhibitor’s body had convened for its general body meeting on Thursday and had discussed the issue on FEUOK’s non-cooperation stance against Dulquer and Wayfarer Films
Last Updated: 03.40 PM, Mar 31, 2022
Federation of Exhibitors United Organisation of Kerala (FEUOK) on Thursday revoked the ‘ban’ that it had imposed on actor Dulquer Salmaan and his production company Wayfarer Films, after Salute had opted for a direct-to-OTT release despite agreeing for a theatrical release on January 14.
FEUOK had convened for its general body meeting on Thursday, where the issue was tabled and discussed. A representative from Wayfarer Films had attended the meeting after FEUOK had requested to submit the reason for Salute opting for an OTT release.
As per reports, the production company had stated that while they had agreed on a theatrical release on January 14, the pandemic had forced a delay. The company had also entered into a contract with the OTT platform Sony LIV, stating that they had to release Salute by March end. The production firm had no other option but to honour the contract. Wayfarer Films reportedly also assured that their next productions will all be theatrical releases and that OTT wouldn’t be the platform that they would choose consistently.
FEUOK chairman K Vijayakumar on March 15 said that the executive committee of the organisation had taken the decision to ‘ban’ Dulquer Salmaan and his movies after his production firm had failed to honour their agreement with 300+ theatres that were ready to screen the film on January 14. He had also mentioned that Wayfarer Films hadn’t intimated the theatre owners when they had decided to release the film on Sony LIV.
Wayfarer Films spokesperson, however, told OTTplay that they had first signed the OTT contract and decided to release it in theatres only later, after they found such an opportunity existed. Meanwhile, Mammootty’s Puzhu, which is also co-produced by Dulquer Salmaan, will also release directly on Sony LIV in April. The movie will mark Mammootty’s first direct-to-OTT release.