Suresh Kumar stands firm on film strike: "It’s not against the stars, someone misled Mohanlal"

The ongoing controversy over the Malayalam film industry strike has escalated, with Kerala Film Producers’ Association (KFPA) Vice President G. Suresh Kumar reaffirming that the strike will proceed as planned.

Speaking to the media after an executive meeting in Kochi, Suresh Kumar made it clear that the producers will not back down from their decision, despite opposition from the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA).

According to Mathrubhumi reports, Suresh Kumar emphasized that the strike is not directed at actors but is meant to address the financial struggles of producers, particularly high entertainment taxes. "The strike isn’t aimed at the stars. Only a few actors are involved in film production. If the producers choose to halt film production, it will happen. No individual star plays a decisive role in this decision," he stated.
His remarks follow AMMA’s official stance distancing itself from the strike, stating that halting film production would only deepen the financial crisis. However, Suresh Kumar dismissed suggestions that actors' opinions would affect the producers’ decision.
Further fueling the controversy, Suresh Kumar addressed recent remarks made by actor-producer Antony Perumbavoor, who had publicly questioned Suresh Kumar’s authority to call for the strike. In response, Suresh Kumar asserted that he was presiding over the meeting in the absence of the president and was authorized to make decisions. He criticized Antony for speaking without fully understanding the situation.
"Before taking any action, one should investigate and respond accordingly. Someone has misled Mohanlal, but there is no issue between him and me. If Mohanlal has done something, it doesn’t concern me," Suresh Kumar stated, implying that misinformation had influenced Mohanlal’s stance on the matter.
Meanwhile, the Kerala Film Chamber has taken an official stance against Antony Perumbavoor, issuing him a notice demanding that he withdraw his critical post about Suresh Kumar. The Chamber also confirmed that, following a joint meeting of industry organizations, the strike will commence as scheduled on June 1.
On the other hand, AMMA has reportedly decided to oppose the strike.