Prithviraj Sukumaran reacts to the ongoing crisis in Malayalam film industry: ‘This whole hue and cry..’

by

Lately, Mollywood has been producing some outstanding films. Yet, there are indications that the industry might be grappling with significant financial difficulties. Amidst numerous major Malayalam movie releases this year, Officer on Duty is the only film that’s seen success at the box office.

During an interview with Hindustan Times, Prithviraj Sukumaran, director of L2: Empuraan, acknowledged that losses are a common aspect of the film industry. He also allayed fears about a potential shutdown, pointing out that there has never been a year in cinema where every production turned a complete net profit.

As an ardent enthusiast, I can’t help but notice how intensified conversations around movies seem to be, thanks in large part to the internet and social media. Just like Prithviraj Sukumaran, I find it fascinating that no film industry globally has managed to escape the reality that success is often accompanied by failure – it’s just part of the game.

I must admit, the movie business carries a significant level of risk and a relatively high failure rate, a fact that’s no secret. The recent uproar about the struggles of various Indian film industries is likely due to increased accessibility to news channels, social media, and communication platforms, allowing for more widespread discussion on the topic.

According to an earlier report by The News Minute, film producer G. Suresh Kumar issued a warning that the Malayalam film industry could potentially shut down from June 1 if ongoing financial issues aren’t resolved. This statement was made on February 6 following discussions with industry associations such as FEFKA.

He stated that out of the 200 movies released last year, only 24 made a profit. This puts the film industry in a tough spot, with losses estimated to be around 600-700 billion rupees. The situation has been further aggravated by increasing production costs and expensive actor wages. Moreover, the One Nation, One Tax policy has added to the troubles, as GST and entertainment tax take about 30% of a film’s earnings.

Attempts to work with these parties have proven unsuccessful because they’ve consistently disregarded the established agreements. On the other hand, Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms aren’t a dependable solution since they purchase successful movies according to their fixed pricing tiers.

Regarding Prithviraj Sukumaran, he’s preparing for the launch of L2: Empuraan on the 27th of March. In this movie, you’ll find Mohanlal, Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas, and a few others playing significant roles.

Read More

2025-03-25 10:37