Antony Perumbavoor deletes post against G. Suresh Kumar; Kerala film chamber says no change in token strike plan

Producer Antony Perumbavoor
| Photo Credit: @antonyperumbavoor/Instagram

Film producer Antony Perumbavoor on Wednesday (February 26, 2025) deleted his Facebook post that questioned the cinema strike plan in the Malayalam film industry announced by G. Suresh Kumar, vice president of the Kerala Film Producers’ Association, on February 6.

He removed the post a day after the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) sent him a notice asking him to delete it within seven days.

An executive committee meeting of the apex body of the film industry held in Kochi on Monday had rallied behind Mr. Kumar while pointing out that he had echoed the combined decision taken by the associations of producers, exhibitors and distributors.

Mr. Antony, whose movie L2: Empuraan is scheduled for release on March 27, agreed to delete his social media post after the film chamber leadership spoke with him on Wednesday. Anto Joseph, president of the producers’ body, had also participated in the mediatory talks.

Though Mr. Antony deleted his controversial post, the film chamber representatives clarified that there is no change in their plan to hold a token strike to press various demands, including removal of double taxation on movie tickets and a salary cut by the lead crop of actors in view of the escalating movie budgets and dwindling returns for several producers.

Saji Nanthiyattu, general secretary of KFCC, said that a meeting of the executive committee to be held before March 5 will decide on the date of the token strike.

K. Vijayakumar, president of the Film Exhibitors’ United Organisation of Kerala (FEOUK), said that efforts were on to ensure the participation of all stakeholders in the token strike. Besides double taxation, the exhibitors continue to face rising electricity tariff and licensing issues, he said.

Mr. Kumar said the issue between him and Mr. Antony has been resolved with the removal of the social media post. However, other issues, including escalating production cost of movies, remain, he said.