In the continuing war with film producers, the Multiplex Association of India has approached competition watchdog Competition Commission of india (CCI), alleging that movie makers were colluding through a cartel to exploit theatre owners. The battle in the glamour industry is the first case the CCI got ever since it was empowered to play an active role after Dhanendra Kumar was made the chairman.

According to sources, the association has filed a complaint against the United Producers and Distributors Forum, the Association of Motion Pictures, the TV Program Producers and Film and TV Producers Guild of India. CCI will scrutinise the application and consider if the case has to be taken or not. Distributors running multiplexes and film producers have been at loggerheads since early April over revenue sharing. While producers and distributors are demanding that distributors must part with 50 per cent of their revenue, multiplex owners say they want to share revenue based on the performance of a film.

Calls made to the Multiplex Association of India spokesperson Deepak Ashar remained unanswered. When contacted, Dheeraj Kumar, CEO of production house Creative Eye said, “A remedy might be expected by Monday. Discussions are underway.”