Thiruvananthapuram: In the wake of growing criticism, the Kerala Film Producers’ Association (KFPA) has clarified its decision to publish monthly box office collection data for Malayalam films, asserting that the move is aimed at fostering transparency and guiding potential investors.
In a letter addressed to its members, KFPA Secretary B. Rakesh stated that the initiative seeks to highlight the mounting financial challenges in the film industry, including skyrocketing production costs, inflated actor and technician remunerations, and declining revenues from OTT platforms post-pandemic. With many producers now relying solely on theatrical revenue—already impacted by double taxation through GST and entertainment tax—recovering investments has become a daunting task.
The association firmly rejected claims that the data release benefits a select few, calling such allegations baseless. The decision was made unanimously by the executive committee to ensure that aspiring producers have realistic expectations about the market before investing.
Discussions on actor remuneration with the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) are also on hold until AMMA’s upcoming general body elections, KFPA noted.
Despite concerns from some quarters—such as producer Sandra Thomas, who warned the move might scare off investors by painting a grim picture of the industry—KFPA insists that open, honest data will help stabilize the industry and build confidence in the long run.
The KFPA’s March 2025 report revealed that out of 15 Malayalam films released that month, only L2: Empuraan turned a profit. The association believes such data is vital to understanding market trends and tackling the industry’s ongoing financial strain.
