Hyderabad: The Telugu film industry could face a major disruption as theater exhibitors in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana call for a bandh on June 1. Movie exhibitors, especially those operating single screen theaters, allege they are being sidelined to favour multiplexes. A marathon meeting was being held at the Telugu Film Chamber in Hyderabad, where leading producers like Dil Raju and Suresh Babu were meeting over 60 exhibitors to solve the dispute.
With Mani Ratnam’s Thug Life starring Kamal Haasan and Kalki 2898 AD scheduled for a June release, this standoff could hurt the overall box office earnings in the region.
Exhibitors argue that the current revenue sharing model leaves them with only 15-20% of the collections, while the producers pocket over 60%, even as the theaters operate at a loss. With a decline in footfalls due to the IPL already affecting the cinemas, the need to reach a consensus was urgent for over 1,500 screens across the Telugu-speaking states.
Additionally, the exhibitors are also worried about the viability of their operations, even as OTT releases threaten their very survival. The single screen exhibitors have been demanding a higher percentage of revenue for the past few months, and industry leaders had appealed to them that the issue would be solved soon.
Meanwhile, film producers acknowledge that the issue could harm all parties involved, and the need for a consensus remains urgent.
