Chiru stirs the hornet’s nest by meeting Andhra Pradesh CM

Vijayawada: At a time when the Tollywood industry is miffed with AP CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on matters related to movie-ticket pricing, Chiru meeting the former couldn’t have gone unnoticed.

Further, after meeting the AP CM, Chiranjeevi expressed happiness with the way Jagan has responded to the predicaments of the film industry.

“This meeting is a great sign of good things to come; I shall now discuss with the respective heads of various sectors (producers, distributors, and exhibitors) and come up with a compressive draft to again meet the Chief Minister," said Chiranjeevi, who added that Jagan has assured that a decision that pleases all the stakeholders will be taken soon.

However, some of the industry big-wigs are wondering how Chiranjeevi could go alone to represent Tollywood. They feel others should have been included too.

On his part, Chiranjeevi clarified that he met the CM as a member of Tollywood and not as a leader of the industry. It is learnt that Chiru was trying to get Jagan’s appointment for a long time to discuss problems related to the film industry.

Finally, he got it through Nagarjuna on Thursday.

FILM CHAMBER UNAWARE OF CHIRU MEET

Chiru recently said he doesn’t want to be the industry pedda (father figure to the industry) but he’s ready to help when it comes to protecting the interest of film workers and the fraternity. Regarding this meeting, Chiru claimed he went to meet AP CM Jagan on the latter’s request and as a member of the film fraternity.

Saying the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC) was unaware of this development, the TFCC Vice-President Mutyala Ramadoss, states, “We don’t have any official information with regard to Chiranjeevi garu’s meeting with Jagan garu. Perhaps he may have met him in his personal capacity.”

When asked why the industry has been divided, he replies, “Industry is a mix of people from various cultures and religions, but it’s only the art that unites people. There may be contrasting perceptions between two individuals or between people from different crafts. However, when it comes to issue-based aspects, we always go with the decision that benefits the industry.”

NO ONE IS BIGGER THAN THE ORGANISATION

Producers’ Council secretary Prasanna Kumar describes Chiru’s meeting with Jagan as his ‘personal meet’, stating that no individual is bigger than the organisation. “People may come and go but the organisa- tions remain permanent,” he adds.

“Even the likes of NTR, ANR, Krishna, etc., never said that they were industry pedda. It’s not a nominated position. The industry sees one as a go-to man based on the kind of approach one employs,” explains Prasanna Kumar, adding that it’s only the producers who’re aware of the industry problems as they deal with all sectors of people.

PAWAN STARTED THE FIGHT WITH AP GOVT

For the uninitiated, the problem exploded in September 2020 with Chiru’s actor-brother, and Jena Sena Party Chief, Pawan Kalyan who criticised AP Government’s order to drastically slash movie-ticket prices. Pawan went to the extent of warning the Jagan-led Government not to interfere in the film industry. Soon after, there were reports that Chiru was unhappy with Pawan’s comments on the AP Government.

Ever since, the gap between the film industry and AP Government has widened, with people from both sides taking potshots.

Chiranjeevi, in the meanwhile, has been lapping up any opportunity to meet YS Jaganone-on-one despite claiming that he doesn’t want to be an industry pedda!