The Kerala Minister insists on a theatre release for Mohanlal’s ‘Marakkar’

Kerala Minister for Films Saji Cherian has insisted on the theatrical distribution of Malayalam superstar Mohanlal’s blockbuster film ‘Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea,’ directed by famed filmmaker Priyadarshan.

Cherian stated that the OTT component was considered when the movie theatres were closed and that the government is adamant in its belief that films should be released in theatres first, as he expects with ‘Marakkar.’

After a six-month wait, movie theatres in Kerala finally began showing films on Wednesday, with strict Covid standards permitting only 50% of the entire seating capacity, putting a damper on producers and theatre owners.

Antony Perumbavoor, the producer of ‘Marakkar,’ first revealed that the filmmakers are considering all alternatives, including an OTT distribution, and that they have now almost finalised the arrangement for a Prime Video release.

This decision has irritated the state’s theatre owners, who are struggling financially and believe that if a big picture like ‘Marakkar’ goes on OTT, they would be in danger.

Perumbavoor requested a minimum guarantee from theatre owners, according to a source, but the amount Perumbavoor is asking for is very large.

This film has cost Perumbavoor a whopping Rs 85 crore, so he’s not going to back down, and with Cherian also pushing for a theatrical release, it’ll be interesting to see what happens next.

‘Marakkar’ was named Best Feature Film for 2019 at the recent National Film Awards.

The storey follows Kunhali Marakkar, a legendary naval leader of the Zamorin of Calicut who is most remembered for organising the first naval defence of the Indian coast.

Marakkar is played by Mohanlal, who is noted for his versatility and adaptability to any role.

Madhu, Manju Warrier, performers from South India and Bollywood, as well as four British actors and one Chinese actor, make up the main cast.

According to a top producer, there are 90 Malayalam films in development, as well as 50 English, Tamil, and Hindi films. With a few films released through OTT platforms during the Covid period making reasonable profits, all eyes are on how the government will address the issue, as many families rely on movie theatres for their livelihood.