The Hindu Business Line : New Malayalam film chamber constituted

AN association of film producers, artistes and workers, styled Malayalam Film Chamber of Commerce, has been constituted in the State with the avowed objective of keeping unity among members of the film industry and to work for their economic, social and professional growth.

A spokesman of the chamber told Business Line that the recent developments in the film industry had prompted them to constitute a new entity for the overall development of the industry. However, he denied that the new organisation would be a parallel body to the existing Kerala Film Chamber or any other organisation.

The first meeting of the chamber was held in Thiruvananthapuram last weekend, where a seven-member temporary management committee and a 39-member executive committee were selected. He said that the official announcement of the chamber would be made in Kochi next month after the State committee meeting to be held Ernakulam.

It was also decided at the meeting to co-operate with various other organisations connected with the film industry and also with the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA). Several senior film artistes and members of other organisations have evinced interest in becoming members of the chamber, the spokesman added.

He pointed out that the business of the chamber and the control of its fund is to be managed by an executive committee elected annually.

The chamber will also take all possible steps that may be necessary for promoting, supporting, uplifting and affecting the business interests of the members with the governments, Censor Board or personalities associated with the film industry.

Our Thiruvananthapuram Bureau adds: The Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce has ruled out talks with office-bearers of AMMA for finding a way out of the crisis in the industry.

Speaking at the `Talk Time' programme organised here by the Kerala Union of Working Journalists, Mr Siyad Kokker, President of the Chamber, said the problems in the industry would be settled as per the directives of the film producers only.

The producers who invest money for making films had the right to decide on the future of the film, he said.

A meeting of the chamber to be held in Kochi on Friday will discuss the issue of producing films without involving artistes who are members of AMMA.