The "script of woes" of the Malayalam film industry does not seem to have changed much this year compared to the last, with the downward spiral in the total number of releases continuing.

"In 2003 the total number of films released was 65 and this year it is expected to be around 55. This was expected and we feel, in the coming years, it will fall further down," "Kireedom" Unni, president of the Kerala Film Distributors Association told IANS.

The prime reason the industry is heading towards disaster is video piracy, which has taken a huge toll on its profitability.

"By the time a new release arrives at the theatres, the video CDs of the film would also have reached vendors. Look at Tamil Nadu, they included video piracy under the Goonda Act three months back and people are now flocking to the theatres," Unni said.

"During Diwali in Tamil Nadu, several new films could not be released because old ones continued to run strong in the theatres making them unavailable for releases," he said.

"Mudra" Sasi, president of the Film Producers Association told IANS that film making in Malayalam is no longer a safe venture.

"Except for two or three films out of the ones released this year, none has made a profit. Less than 10 films managed to break even, while the rest burnt their fingers," said Sasi.

On an average, a film's total cost without super stars would cross Rs.10 million ($228,154).

"The sad part of it is that five years back a film used to cover around 1,200 theatres in Kerala and today even a superstar movie would run only in 600 theatres," said Sasi.

"The only way out for it to sustain itself as an industry is to cut costs drastically and if that does not happen it would be curtains for all of us," he said.
 
A worried Unni said: "Rough estimates indicate that a total of Rs.1 billion would have gone into the industry this year and the returns would be about 50 percent."

Unni and Sasi are big names in the industry here, but both failed to bring out a movie this year.

"Honestly, I do not want to lose money which I made two years back. If it is spent on a film that would bomb, it would be difficult for me to survive. I am waiting," said Sasi.

But Unni said he is planning a film with superstar Mohanlal next year, which is to be directed by Blessy. Blessy's Mammootty starrer "Kazhcha" is one of this year's super hits.