Vijay fans call for Marakkar’s boycott after FEUOK’s decision to not screen Master

Since Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on January 1 announced that theatres in the State can reopen, fans of Tamil superstar Vijay havebeen waiting with bated breath for the release of his hugely anticipated movie, Master. However, the recent decision by the cine exhibitors’ body, Film Exhibitors United Organisation of Kerala (FEUOK), to not reopen theatres till the theatre owners are provided relief in terms of fixed charges and exempted from paying entertainment tax, has come as a dampener for those awaiting the release of Master in Kerala.

FEUOK president and producer Antony Perumbavoor had said that it’s unfair to reopen theatres just for a Tamil movie as once theatres reopen, they must keep screening films. Right now, the theatre owners are under immense financial pressure as the government has not lent any support as promised, he said. Antony also said that they will take a final decision after Monday’s meeting with the Chief Minister.

Vijay fans, however, didn’t take the decision too well. Many had commented on social media and on Antony Perumbavoor’s social media page that it’s not right to keep the theatres shut when Master is releasing and reopen it only when Antony’s co-production and Mohanlal-starrer Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham releases on March 26, 2021.

The fans also called for the boycott of Marakkar, if cine exhibitors in Kerala fail to show Master before the release of Mohanlal’s magnum opus, which is directed by Priyadarshan. Master, meanwhile, is set to release in South Indian on January 13.