Exclusive! Avatar 2 won’t be screened in Kerala theatres due to ‘unreasonable terms’ of distributors: FEUOK

Film Exhibitors United Organisation of Kerala (FEUOK) have decided to not screen the 3D version of Hollywood filmmaker James Cameron’s much-awaited sequel of Avatar in the State due to “unreasonable terms and conditions” by the film’s distributors.

There were reports that FEUOK had banned the movie titled Avatar – The Way of Water, which is set to release on December 16, altogether in the State. However, that’s not the case. The current stance of FEUOK only applies to theatres that will be screening its 3D version, which is also its most-awaited.

In an exclusive chat with OTTplay, FEUOK president K Vijayakumar tells us the reason for FEUOK’s stance and that the matter would be resolved soon. “None of the FEUOK members will be playing the 3D version of the film,” he says. “There are certain terms and conditions that we have agreed on while releasing other language films in Kerala. One of them is that only 50% of the net collection, after the tax is deducted, will be given to distributors, but in Avatar 2’s case, they have asked for 60%. In certain cases where the film is made on a huge budget, we do agree for 55%, but the distributors of Avatar 2 are not ready to budge,” he says.

The distributors of Avatar 2 in Kerala, UTV Productions, have also asked to ensure that the movie plays in theatres for a minimum of three weeks and that their net share percentage doesn’t decrease the entire period the movie runs in theatres, says Vijayakumar.

“These are unreasonable terms and that’s why FEUOK members have agreed to not play the film in the State,” he explains, adding that out of the 600+ theatres in Kerala, 454 are owned by FEUOK members.

Point out that the movie is much anticipated and has the potential to draw in huge crowds to theatres, and Vijayakumar says, “They have agreed for a share of just 52.5% share with multiplexes in Kerala. In other States, it’s 50%. Only in single screen theatres in Kerala, they want it to remain at 60%. We believe the share should be less for such theatres that are suffering as compared to the multiplexes,” he says.

Vijayakumar also informs us that the 60% share has been sought only for the 3D version of the film and that the distributors have agreed to 50% for its 2D version. The FEUOK president, however, said that he hopes that the issue will be resolved soon and didn’t dismiss the possibility of discussions with UTV representatives in the coming days.