Another controversy is brewing in the Malayalam film industry with the MACTA Federation alleging that many multinationals are trying to take control of the Malayalam film industry by signing films with selected filmmakers here. Baiju Kottarakkara, treasurer of the MACTA Directors Union, said on Monday that multinationals, including Reliance and Pyramid Saimira, Walmart and Tatas had signed projects with directors including Priyadarshan, Joshie, Lal Jose, Renjith, Johney Antony, Roshan Andrews, Rafi Mecartin, Siddique, Anwar Rasheed, Fazil, and Kamal.
These directors and actors have been booked by them to direct and act only in their films for the next five years. This will destroy the industry; directors who broke away from the Malayalam Cine Technicians Association (MACTA) should cancel any agreements they have reached with the companies, Baiju Kottarakkara told reporters.
Reliance and Walmart have signed up at least three top actors, including Mammootty and Mohanlal, besides 10 reputed film directors, for their coming films. Actors Mammootty, Mohanlal and Dileep have taken an advance of Rs. 50 lakh each, he alleged. "Reliance is undertaking the cabling work of at least 400 theatres in the state," he said.
However, while reacting to this allegation, director Siddique said that this is an attempt made by MACTA to 'tarnish' the reputation of directors by coming out with such 'wild allegations'. The Federation office bearers are desperate to keep their positions intact and are hence coming out with these allegations. He further added that neither he nor any other film director had signed any such agreement.
