Protest over OTT release of '2018': Cinema theaters to be closed for two days; breach of contract, says FEUOK 

KOCHI: FEUOK decides to shut down theaters to protest against the OTT release of '2018 '. The movie will be released on 'SonyLIV' tomorrow. FEUOK announced that cinema theaters in the state will remain closed tomorrow and the day after as part of the protest. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by FEUOK.

The reason for the protest is that 2018 is being released on OTT in violation of the contract. The understanding between the filmmakers and the theaters is that the film should be released on OTT only after 42 days of its theatrical release but '2018' will be reaching the OTT platform on the 33rd day after its release. The theater owners said that they will refund the money to those who made online bookings to watch the movie tomorrow and the day after. Meanwhile, the Exhibitors Federation has informed that the theaters will not be closed and the shows will continue.

Tovino Thomas, Kunchacko Boban, Aparna Balamurali, Asif Ali, Vineeth Srinivasan, Indrans, Lal, Narain, Tanvi Ram, Shivada, Aju Varghese, Siddique, Joy Mathew, Sudheesh and others played the lead roles in '2018'. The film coming on OTT when it is doing well in India and abroad. The film was also released in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Kannada languages. '2018' is produced by Venu Kunnappilly, CK Padmakumar and Anto Joseph.