Rift in Mollywood: Producer Sandra Thomas calls for emergency meeting of Kerala Film Producers’ Association

Row over strike call in Malayalam film industry intensifies as producers and actors clash over rising production costs.

The row over the strike call by film bodies in the Malayalam film industry from June 1 onwards appears to be intensifying.

Producer Sandra Thomas on Tuesday (February 18, 2025) urged the Kerala Film Producers’ Association (KFPA) to convene an emergency general body meeting to discuss the fallout of the strike announced by G. Sureshkumar, vice-president of the association, on February 6.

She said that the strike call was issued “without holding any discussion” with the members of the KFPA. The Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) has now turned against the association of producers following Mr. Sureshkumar’s allegation that rising pay packets of lead actors was impacting the prospects of the producers, she said.

She said the KFPA should have discussed the issue of rising production cost and soaring salary of actors with the actors’ body, before going ahead and blaming them for the increase in production cost.

The association leadership must clarify on the statement by Jayan Cherthala, actor and member of the ad-hoc committee of the AMMA, that they had financially supported the KFPA by organising television and stage shows. “As members, we have the right to know the details of the utilisation of such funds,” she said.

The KFPA had rejected Mr. Jayan’s statements while asking him to tender an apology within seven days for stating that the producers’ body had not yet repaid a portion of the financial assistance extended by AMMA.

Mr. Jayan said that the legal counsel of the actors’ body will submit their reply to the notice sent by the producers’ association.