Telugu film producers said that not only exhibitors, but also distributors and producers are facing problems in the industry.
Recently, exhibitors held a press meet saying that they were in trouble and demanded the implementation of the percentage system. In response to this, Telugu producers held a press meet on Wednesday evening.
Speaking at the press meet, producer Suryadevara Naga Vamsi said, “In this ecosystem, if one section is not doing well, all three sections will suffer. Exhibitors, distributors and producers are all facing problems. Exhibitors held a press meet and said their condition is bad. But the situation of distributors and producers is also the same.”
He said that exhibitors themselves had admitted that theatres like Sriramulu had to be closed due to lack of content.
“If exhibitors put such conditions, content from producers will reduce further. That will not help anyone. Please do not take one-sided decisions and talk as if you are giving a final deadline,” he said.
Naga Vamsi said that there are at least 25 films of producers present at the meeting, which have already completed more than 50 percent of their shooting. These include both small and big films.
“We have already spent 70 to 80 percent of the budget on these films. At this stage, bringing a new system is not correct. We cannot accept this system for films that are already under production,” he said.
However, he said producers are ready to discuss the percentage system for future films, but only after discussing certain conditions.
“We need to discuss theatre grading, maintenance charges and online ticket booking convenience charges. After that, we have no objection to going with the percentage system for new films,” he said.
Taking a dig at a big exhibitor, Naga Vamsi said, “One big exhibitor has around 300 multiplex screens. Such a person, who is affecting the revenue of several single-screen theatres, spoke about the problems of single-screen theatres in yesterday’s press meet. It looked very funny.”
He also said that exhibitors are claiming the percentage system is being followed in other states.
“But the situation in those states is also not good. Compared to them, we are in a better position. Then why should we go backwards?” he asked.
Naga Vamsi said the distributor is as important as the exhibitor.
“How correct is it to kill the distributor and save only the exhibitor? If better facilities are provided in single-screen theatres, more people will come to theatres,” he said.
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