It is known news that the government of Telangana has announced certain sops for the Telugu Film Industry along with the reopening of theatres. While that is something to cheer about, it appears there is something else happening behind the screen.
At least this seems to be the opinion of Eluru Surendra Reddy, Chairman of Telugu Film Chamber’s Producers Sector.
Here’s what he had to say in his own words –
“Everyone is rejoicing over Telangana government’s announcement of boons for cinema industry. But it appears that a big lobbying has happened. The big heroes, the lease theatre owners, they got what they wanted. They announced that GST will be reimbursed for films with less than 10 crores budget. Can that budget film be called as a small budget film?”
“Small budget cinema means anywhere between 2 to 3 crores. They don’t even have a GST number. We all know what kind of numbers are shown. In an year, out of the 200 films that come, the big budget films are at the most 20 or 30. The rest of them are small budget flicks. It is only the small producers who bring in fresh talent to the industry and socially conscious movies. It is these movies which feed the 30,000 workers of the industry.”
“As small film producers, we are requesting only three things – 2 hours of screen time in theatre every day for a small budget film, provide us free locations, fix the problem of digital providers forcibly taking Rs 12000 per week for theatrical screening. But all 3 requests have been ignored. Small producers like us are not even visible to Stars like Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna. Sir, industry is not just your 20 movies, there are other 180 movies. Please don’t invite curses from the producers of these movies. As industry big heads, you have done gross injustice to small film producers. You have got what you wanted through lobbying. Thank you sir.”
