Malayalam film body has lost importance, say industry members

Chennai, Aug 27 (IANS) The forthcoming elections to the Malayalam Cine Technicians Association (MACTA) have lost their meaning as many major directors and producers have formed a separate union, industry members said.

The elections were scheduled for Monday, but were postponed after a fracas in Kochi. They are expected to be held shortly.

'Following the exit of major producers, directors and actors from MACTA and the formation of a rival union, Monday's postponement is a storm in a tea-cup as there is nothing to fight for,' a top director told IANS.

A standoff between director Thulasidas and actor Dileep has caused the fracas.

Thulasidas has alleged that Dileep, after taking a payment of Rs.4 million four years back for a film titled 'Kuttananadan Express', walked out from the film following a string of flops by the director.

The MACTA has said the actor should work for the director while Association of Malayalam Movie Actors (AMMA) is reportedly supporting Dileep.

Film Employees Association of South India (FEASI) has backed MACTA. Its general secretary Vinayan's supporters charged director Siddique, who is supporting Dileep, with unruly behaviour and an effort to capture MACTA.

They alleged Siddique received indirect backing from AMMA.

'Vinayan enforced discipline into the Malayalam industry by bringing the recalcitrant actor Dileep to book when he refused to cooperate with director Thulasidas after pocketing advance fees,' said G. Kutty, one of Vinayan's supporters.

Siddique, who heads a body of top Malayalam directors and is endorsed by some of the mainstays of AMMA, denied the charge. 'We have little to do with MACTA as it has become a rubber stamp body of the flotsam and jetsam of the industry as the best of Malayalam filmdom are with us.'

Industry sources say Vinayan may finally emerge as a winner when MACTA elections are held as a large number of the grassroot level workers and FEASI back him.

'The sabre rattling by supporters of Vinayan and Siddique is mere hype prior to elections. Members of both the bodies work together regardless of the rivalry. In the absence of a real fight between the two, the whole thing is a farce,' said a source.