Kerala theatre owners ban Mammootty and Mohanlal’s Patriot over revenue-sharing dispute

Mammootty and Mohanlal star in Patriot

• FEUOK refuses to screen Patriot over revenue-sharing dispute
• Patriot makers demand 60% box office share for first two weeks
• Release of Patriot on April 23 now uncertain due to controversy

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Mammootty and Mohanlal’s upcoming Malayalam film Patriot has landed in controversy. The theatre owners' association Film Exhibitors United Organisation of Kerala (FEUOK) has decided on Friday not to screen the film due to the revenue-sharing dispute.

According to Mathrubhumi, the group has instructed theatres around the state not to sign screening contracts with the movie's producers. The action was taken in response to a dispute between the producers of the movie and their desire for a portion of the box office earnings.

Theatre owners typically give producers and distributors 60% of the box office receipts during the first week of a film's release, according to the current revenue-sharing practice in the Malayalam film business. In the second and third weeks, the share usually drops to 55% and 50%, respectively.

Nonetheless, it has been reported that the makers of "Patriot" have demanded a 60% cut for the first two weeks of the movie's theatrical run. FEUOK objected to the deal that was put up to theatre owners since it included this demand.

According to the theatre owners' group, it would not be financially feasible for theatre operators to agree to a 60% share for the first two weeks and might lead to large losses.

The group claims that the current structure has been in place to guarantee a fair revenue split between exhibitors and producers.

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Additionally, FEUOK officials stated that producers typically agree to a stake that is even smaller than the 60 and 55 percent structure currently used in single-screen theatres in many situations involving multiplex theatres. Uncertainty has arisen around the planned release of Patriot, which is due to open in theatres on April 23, since the group is now recommending theatres not to sign deals for the movie.

Patriot is among the highly anticipated films of the year as the biggest talents in the industry, Mammootty and Mohanlal, are all set to reunite after a long hiatus.