OLF takes over Kerala box-office!

The Kerala theatres which used to screen mostly Malayalam films will be taken over by Other Language Films (OLF) from Diwali day (October 26). OLF means Tamil and Hindi films.

The two major Tamil films releasing for Diwali are Vijay’s Velayudham and Suriya’s 7aum Arivu. Plus the Hindi film of Shah Rukh Khan RA One. Vijay, Suriya and Shah Rukh are very popular in Kerala, and all the three command an opening.

The OLF Diwali movies have taken over most of the screens in key towns. They are releasing big and as per trade sources Vijay’s Velayudham is opening in 111 screens, Suriya’s 7aum Arivu too is opening in 111 screens! SRK’s RA One at the last count is opening in 81 screens!

And all these OLF’s are releasing simultaneously in two or three screens in main stations. For example in Ernakulam 7aum Arivu is opening in Shenoys, Little Shenoys and Padma- Screen 2, with a total capacity of 1690 seats.

Velayudham is opening in the huge Sarita and Kavita with a total capacity of 2340 seats. RA One is opening in Sridhar and Savitha with a combined seating capacity of 1116 seats.

Trade analyst KJ Joy said: “ I have never seen such kind of opening for any films in Kerala. No Malayalam film has opened in so many screens simultaneously. It means clearly 300 odd screens out of 450 odd main theatres will be screening OLF’s.”

This has created tremors in Malayalam film industry. Already a battle is raging between the powerful Kerala Film Exhibitors Federation (KFEF), which controls all the screens in A & B releasing centres with the minister for Cinema, Ganesh Kumar.

Ganesh Kumar had recently said that he is going to introduce a bill in the assembly to take away the Rs 2 Surcharge on each cinema ticket, and also abolish Rs 5 advance booking charges taken by exhibitors.

A section of the Malayalam film producers, distributors and artists are also waging their own battle against KFEF and their policies which encourage OLF at their expense. So theatre owners in Kerala have said that they will not be screening new Malayalam films from November 1, unless the minister withdraws his statements regarding removal of surcharge.

Two Malayalam biggies Mohanlal’s Oru Marubhoomi Kadha and Mammootty’s Venicile Vyapari due on November 4 for the big Bakrid
weekend, will now have to be postponed.

Meanwhile the KFEF spokesperson said : “ From November 1 we will not
be screening any new Malayalam film unless the minister withdraws his
proposed statement regarding stoppage of surcharge. We have enough OLF
content to keep us going for some time.”