In a long-awaited press meet on May 26, top Telugu film producer Dil Raju spoke about the increasing unrest in the Telugu film industry. During the escalating arguments over the theatre controversy in Godavari districts and release postponements of big films, the veteran producer decided to interact with the media personally, dispelling misconceptions and providing comprehensive information about the current war between exhibitors, distributors, and producers.
While the industry has been going through a churn with conflicts over revenue-sharing patterns, piracy, and presumed miscommunication, Dil Raju’s remark provided an extensive perspective to the crisis — a bid to soothe nerves and instill confidence among different stakeholders of Telugu cinema.
The Root of the Theatre Controversy
Dil Raju has confirmed that there is a conflict between distributors and exhibitors, particularly in the East and West Godavari districts. In his words, the issue was raised by the exhibitors on April 19, but it gained prominence only at a film guild meeting on April 26. The issue is about the age-old issue of rental versus percentage revenue models.
The crux of the dispute is in sharing revenue from theatrical releases. Exhibitors want better terms, while distributors want conventional sharing arrangements. Dil Raju admitted that the problem has been ongoing for years and criticized the absence of a proper solution. He stressed that no matter how many times they discussed it, the Telugu film industry could not come to an agreement, leading to confusion and mistrust among parties.
No Truth to Theatres’ Shutdown News
Following a string of media reports about a possible “theatre bandh” (shutdown), Dil Raju staunchly denied the intentions. He made public that an exhibitors’ meeting was conducted on May 18 with regard to revenue-sharing norms, but made it clear that no motion was adopted to shut down theatres.
He blamed the media for circulating false news, claiming no one can call for a bandh unilaterally without industry-wide agreement. “We were looking to discuss the percentage policy, but it was taken out of context. There’s been no decision to close theatres down,” he reiterated.
Game Changer Piracy: A Major Setback
Dil Raju, who is also producing the highly awaited Ram Charan film Game Changer, spoke on the serious subject of piracy of the film. He did admit that the film did lose a lot of its business from unofficial leaks. More disturbing to him were false claims making him the protagonist of the piracy.
“I felt awful when a new YouTube channel quoted another producer accusing me of leaking the film. That is not only false but hurtful,” Raju claimed. He said the leak had impacted everyone working on the production and such accusations only serve to break trust in the industry.
On Pawan Kalyan’s Film & Theatre Strike Link
The row also had bearings on the release of Pawan Kalyan’s Hari Hara Veera Mallu. There were rumors that the theatre row would postpone or scuttle the release of the movie. Dil Raju brushed aside these reports saying that the movie was not formally fixed for a June release and that no producer or distributor would go ahead and stall the release of a big Pawan Kalyan film without a valid reason.
He appealed for more responsible reporting, emphasizing that such disinformation only breeds unnecessary anxiety among fans and stakeholders.
Unity Missing in Telugu Film Industry
One of the most poignant observations made by Dil Raju was his honest confession that the Telugu film community is disjointed. Be it producers, exhibitors, or distributors, he asserted that the community has not been united in times of need. This disunity, he contended, has enabled outside rumors and conflicts to escalate, resulting in even more mayhem.
There is no ‘Aa Naluguru’ (four elders) in the industry any more,” Raju said using the common media choice to refer to a so-called clique of power holders. “If you wish to target someone, come up with something new. Don’t involve me unnecessarily,” he said firmly.
He also explained that the controversy had begun with just one exhibitor from East Godavari but the media went overboard with it, blaming him entirely. He asked the media to cross-check facts before publishing, especially on matters that concern scores of livelihoods and the reputation of the Telugu film fraternity.
The Road Ahead: Dialogue and Transparency
Dil Raju wrapped up his press interaction by emphasizing the need for open conversation and regular communication within the industry. Though he realized the intricacy of the issues concerned, he is optimistic that mutual respect and transparency will ultimately lead the industry to sustainable solutions.
He implored fellow MPs to put aside their individual differences and strive for common objectives. “We are all members of the same ecosystem. If one of us is suffering, we are all suffering,” he said.
As the Telugu film industry swims through these troubled waters, voices such as Dil Raju’s are a welcome mix of candor and leadership. Though only time will tell if his words will bring about change, for now he has at least taken a step to calm tensions and call for unity in an industry ever more split apart.
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In Conclusion
The Telugu cinema is at a turning point. With problems varying from piracy to share-of-revenue disputes and absence of industry unity, there is an unprecedented need for firm leadership and responsible reporting from the media. Dil Raju’s outspoken remarks will not fix everything at once, but they have assuredly sown the seeds for the very discussions that could change the face of Telugu cinema.
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