A 'mega worry' for Malayalam mega stars! 31st July 2007
14.52 IST
By P. Sreekumaran
The straws in the wind are significant. They reveal the growing sense of unease among megastars of Malayalam cinema over the increasing popularity of Tamil films in Kerala.
The proximate cause for the rising concern of top Malayalam actors and actresses is the phenomenal popularity Tamil superstar Rajnikant ’s Sivaji is enjoying in Mollywood.
Before ‘Sivaji’, it was the turn of Vijay 's Pokkiri to win popular acceptance from the fans in Kerala.
The trend has, obviously set the alarm bells ringing. The first sign of the sense of disquiet was the meeting megastar Mammootty had with Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, according to the grapevine.
Mammootty, says the buzz, handed over a petition detailing the fears of Malayalam stars over the encroachment of its turf by Tamil . movies. The memorandum, it is said, wants a hefty tax to be imposed on movies from Kollywood.
Mollywood circles call it the "Kannada syndrome" . It is a known fact that Kannada film Industry is very protective of its territory and fiercely resists any attempt to dominate their territory by other language films.
Mollywood seems to have taken a leaf out of the Kannada cinema's book.
RSS
A 'mega worry' for Malayalam mega stars!
