YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy is not against the Telugu film industry at all and is very much aware of the problems of the cinema theatres, state minister for cinematography Perni Nani said.
“Jagan himself owns two popular theatres in Vijayawada. He owns majority stake in those twin theatres. His uncle also has a cinema theatre in Kadapa. So, he is not completely unaware of the issues of the exhibitors,” Nani told reporters on Wednesday.
The minister said all that the Jagan government had been saying was that the cinema theatres should run with appropriate licences and follow the rules prescribed by the government.
“In September, too, we have reminded the theatres to renew their licences and fire safety certificates. Action was taken against only those which have not complied with the directions,” he explained, adding that the government was ready to listen to the problems of the exhibitors, whoever approached it.
Nani said the chief minister had clearly told a delegation of Tollywood led by megastar Chiranjeevi and Nagarjuna in the past that the industry should take up pre-production and post-production works in Andhra Pradesh.
“Nearly 70 per cent of the revenue to the Tollywood comes from Andhra Pradesh, but the state government has not been getting any tax revenue. As per my understanding, the Tollywood delegation has also agreed with the chief minister’s suggestion,” he said.
Stating that the Jagan government would adopt a liberal approach towards the film industry, Nani said the industry, too, is expected to follow a proper procedure.
“The industry will survive only if the people patronage it and the government supports it. Jagan suggested that majority of the shooting be done in Andhra Pradesh, besides post-production activity,” he said.
