Malayalam cinema again moving towards strike
Mollywood again moving to yet another strike as tomorrow the exhibitors of Kerala will close down all screens as a part of a one day strike against the decrease of cinema ticket CESS rate from 5 rupees to 3 rupees by government. The exhibitors had warned that if the declaration about the decreased CESS rate not withdrawn, they will start the theater strike for indefinite period from May 2nd. Kerala Exhibitors Film Federation, Kerala Cine Exhibitors association etc will take part in the strike tomorrow and along with them the Multiplexes of Carnival group also join the strike tomorrow.
Liberty Basheer, the president of Exhibitors federation said that the cabinet first decided to increase the rate to 5 rupees, on December 17 last year. Then they decided against it on this year February 18 and decided to decrease the rate to 3 rupees. That is not at all acceptable and that is why they decided to go for a strike tomorrow which will serve as a warning from them to the government.
Liberty Basheer also alleges that the decision to give a private company the authority of ticket sales has come even after the opposition from the Minister who looking after the cinema affairs. By giving away 50 paisa for each ticket will be like 12 crore extra loss to the theaters of Kerala altogether.
