Director of Aadujeevitham Blessy is organising a protest when multiple giant PVR-INOX stops showing Malayalam films. Details inside

The Malayalam film industry and PVR-INOX have been embroiled in a battle that has impacted filmmakers’ businesses. PVR-INOX and the Kerala Film Producers Association (KFPA) got into a serious argument over the producer’s recently founded content distribution business (PDC). PVR Cinemas, a large multiplex, ceased showing Malayalam films as a consequence. The continuing issue is about to escalate further as Blessy Ipe Thomas, the director of Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Aadujeevitham, is scheduled to organise a demonstration outside PVR Lulu in Kochi as payback.

More details on the protest will be disclosed during a meeting with the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA), according to The Hindu. The meeting was set to begin at 11 am. “Despite the film’s successful run across the country for 16 days, PVR Cinemas abruptly halted its screening on April 10 without any prior notice,” director Blessy told The Hindu, expressing his disappointment over the stoppage of Malayalam films.

According to the filmmaker, it made him want to voice his opposition to what he sees as an unfair and unilateral move. Blessy also drew attention to more general industry worries and questioned why PVR Cinemas, which has more than 1,500 screens, would stop showing films outside of Kerala due to a problem that predominantly affects the state. “I’ve tried every means to get the theatre owners to show the film, and I’ve also spoken with MLA Saji Cherian, but there’s still no resolution,” Blessy said.

“This could be the end of my life as a director if my film, for which I worked hard for 16 years, does not receive proper recognition,” the director said. Additionally, Blessy asked the crowd to consider the wrongdoings of the multiplex companies, pointing out that even though all of the tickets for the April 13 and 14 shows were sold out, movie theatres like PVR had halted operations.

Kerala and other governments have banned the exhibition of recent films like Aavesham, Varshangalkk Shesham Jai Ganesh, and others because of the continuing unrest. In addition, recently released films like Prithviraj’s Aadujeevitham have been removed.