Film producer Antony Perumbavoor of Aashirvad Cinemas banner has taken down his Facebook post criticising G Suresh Kumar, vice-president of Kerala Film Producers' Association, after receiving a show-cause notice from the Kerala Film Chamber. The notice, issued in response to his remarks opposing an industry-wide strike, deemed his statements inappropriate and gave him a week to explain. It also warned of possible disciplinary action if he failed to comply.
The dispute stemmed from new regulations introduced by industry bodies, requiring films released after March 25 to obtain prior approval before finalising contracts. This was widely seen as a move affecting the release of Mohanlal’s L2: Empuraan, set to release on March 27. Antony, the film’s co-producer, had openly criticised the strike call, arguing that it was not in the best interest of the industry.
Following his post, the Film Chamber intervened, leading to his decision to withdraw it. Film Chamber President BR Jacob has now stated that the matter is expected to be resolved.
Earlier, the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) announced that it would not support the Kerala Film Producers' Association’s (KFPA) call for a strike from June 1. AMMA cited concerns about its impact on industry workers and expressed willingness to discuss issues such as artist remuneration instead.