Kerala Floods: Mammootty's Oru Kuttanadan Blog, Mohanlal-Nivin Pauly's Kayamkulam Kochunni and Other Onam Releases to be Postponed?
However, the actors are least affected by the change in releases, as they are busy in aiding the needy and affected, while posting helpline numbers on social media. For them, humanity comes first and then business!
Kerala is facing its worst natural disaster with the recent floods, since the terrible 2001 Tsunami. More than 100 people have been killed in the flood caused by torrential rains and overflowing of dams. Nearly half the state is submerged in water, and the infrastructure is broken down. Rescue operations carried out by the state and the army is going in full force to save those trapped in their own houses. In this situation, the last thing on people's minds is to go to a theatre and watch a movie!
With Onam approaching next week, it was usually the most profitable time for producers to release their films and take advantage of the holiday period. This year, there were some biggies coming out in the period, starring popular Malayalam stars like Mammootty, Mohanlal, Nivin Pauly, Fahadh Faasil and Biju Menon. These are the four major blockbusters that were scheduled to release in this period.
#1 - Kayamkulam Kochunni - Nivin Pauly and Mohanlal
Initial release date: August 15
#2 - Padayottam - Biju Menon
Initial release date: August 17
#3 - Varathan: Fahadh Faasil and Aishwarya Lakshmi
Initial release date: August 22
#4 - Oru Kuttanadan Blog - Mammootty and Raai Laxmi
Initial release date: August 24
Out of these films, Kayamkulam Kochunni and Padayattom have missed their release slots, with the new release dates yet to be announced. With the situation worsening in Kerala as the time goes, it is nearly impossible for Varathan and Oru Kuttanadan Blog to release next week without suffering losses. In an interview to TOI, M Renjith, executive member of Kerala Film Producers Association, said, "Even in restaurants or small shops in villages, there is hardly any business, and construction works have entirely stopped. The box office collection points are not just the multiplexes, where usually the unaffected IT crowd watch their movies. The villages and towns contribute most to the theatre revenue. People have been dislocated or water has seeped into their houses. It will take time for things to get back to normal."
However, the actors are least affected by the change in releases, as they are busy in aiding the needy and affected, while posting helpline numbers on social media. For them, humanity comes first and then business! Salute!
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 16, 2018 10:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).