Patriot release faces threat from FEUOK amid trade dispute with exhibitors

Earlier, we reported about director Mahesh Narayanan's film Patriot, featuring Mohanlal, Mammootty, and Fahadh Faasil, among others, being slated for an April 23 release. However, some uncertainty over its timely release has surfaced amid a trade dispute between the film's producer and theatre owners in Kerala.

Reportedly, Anto Joseph mentioned in an agreement sent to the exhibitors that the theatrical collection from the film should be shared on a 60:40 ratio over the first fourteen days of release. Meanwhile, Kerala Film Exhibitors’ United Organisation of Kerala has revealed that the film cannot hit theatres if its producer remains hellbent on changing the current revenue sharing model between producers and theatre owners in the Malayalam film industry. FEUOK has now intensified its stance in the issue.

According to FEUOK President K Vijayakumar, the agreement goes against the current model, which says 60 per cent of the first week's collection should go to the producer and the rest to the exhibitor, while it is 55:45 and 50:50 for the second and third weeks, respectively. Vijayakumar also revealed that FEUOK has warned its members against signing the agreement, because doing so would negatively impact the business prospects of theatre owners. He added that the organisation's stance comes at a time when some of the recently released movies in Malayalam failed to make the big bucks at the box office.

Vijayakumar added that Patriot could not be released, except if its producer adheres to the existing model. Meanwhile, Kerala Film Producers’ Association President B Rakesh said that it has not received any complaint in relation to the issue. Rakesh added that considering the film's high budget, its producer might have asked theatre owners to change the model. He also suggested that theatre owners could look at the producer's request and apply the necessary change.