New film organisation formed in Kerala

The crisis-ridden Malayalam film industry today saw the birth of a new organisation, with top actors, including Mammooty and Mohanlal, giving their full backing to the new body. Members of all the 19 unions-- including breakaway faction of top directors, Writers Union, AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists Association), which were all part of MACTA (Malayalam Cine Technicians Association) Federation, the apex body of 19 trade unions in the industry, are supporting the yet-to-be-named new organisation, film industry sources said.

At a meeting here this morning, workers of the unions got together and pledged their support to the new organisation.

Earlier, addressing a meeting of workers in the industry, Mammooty said he was confident that the new organisation would help the film industry.

The row started after director Thulasidas accused popular actor Dileep of refusing to act in his film after taking advance. MACTA came forward to defend the director and decided not to cooperate with the actor and to boycott him.

MACTA split on June 10 with the directors union announcing their decision to come out of the organisation after conciliatory talks held by representatives of Indian Film Employees Confedeartion and Film Employees Federation of South India, failed.