'Reliance, Walmart eyeing Mollywood'

KOCHI: Another controversy is brewing in the Malayalam film industry with the MACTA Federation on Monday alleging that Reliance, Walmart and Tatas have signed up at least three top actors, including Mamooty and Mohanlal, besides 10 reputed film directors, for their coming films.
   
This will destroy the industry and the directors, including Priyardarshan, Fasil, Siddiq, Joshi, Lal Jose, who broke away from the Malayalam Cine Technicians Association (MACTA) should withdraw from any agreement they have reached with the companies, Federation Treasurer, Baiju Kottarakara, said here.
   
Three top actors -- Mamooty, Mohanlal and Dileep have taken an advance of Rs 50 lakh each, he alleged. "Reliance is undertaking the cabling work of at least 400 theatres in the state," he said.
   
The directors and actors have been 'bought' by the top companies, he said, adding that they have been booked by them to direct and act in only their films for the next five years. This will hit the ordinary film industry worker and destroy the trade union movement and they should withdraw from such an agreement, he said.
   
Reacting to the allegation, director Siddiq, who was the first to break away from the federation, following MACTA's decision to boycott Dileep, who refused to act in a film by director Thulasidas, said attempts are being made by MACTA to 'tarnish' the reputation of directors by coming out with such 'wild allegations'.
   
The Federation office bearers are desperate to keep their chairs intact and so were coming out with the allegations, he said and added that neither he nor any other film directors had signed any such agreement.