Top Producer Advocates Political Neutrality for Tollywood

A top producer claims that the Telugu film industry should remain neutral since governments change in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana every five years. “Telugu producers hosting parties to celebrate Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's victory in AP is unwarranted,” he says and adds, “Demonising previous YS Jagan Reddy government as anti-industry is quite unfortunate,” he adds. He claims the industry being brushed with TDP clours doesn’t augur well since creative people have no political leanings. “If I like a particular party and if it wins, I should host a party at my home, rather than making it an industry-win and turning the industry into TDP sympathizers. We are creative people and do our work to earn a living. For instance, national film awards are given on merit and talent, not for people who are followers of the BJP, so industry bigwigs should understand this," he adds.

"Many governments have come and gone, while all parties like Congress, TDP, BRS, and YSCP have done their bit for the Telugu film industry over the decades and just demeaning one party is unfair,” he laments.

Another director cites YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's regime’s industry-friendly decisions and also hiked the prices of tickets for star-studded movies. “Y S Jagan urged producers to keep ticket rates under check in Andhra Pradesh since he believed that cinema should be affordable for the common man. Besides, he allowed ticket hikes for big movies from 'RRR' to 'Salaar'. He felt that ticket hike is necessary for films made with Rs 300 or 400 crore to enable them to recover their money and he wasn’t against anyone,” he informs. He further supports YS Jagan's policy to keep location costs under check in Andhra Pradesh. “Andhra Pradesh is much cheaper and offers public locations free of cost for film shootings unlike in Telangana state,” he says and adds, “Producers can save Rs 15 to Rs 50 lakh by shooting in AP, while they have to cough up Rs 15,000 to Rs 3 lakhs per location in Telangana which is unaffordable for small budget movies,” he adds. “He was offering sites and government help to set up film studios and recording studios in Andhra Pradesh,' he explains.

Drawing the influence of the TDP win over Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce as industry bigwigs want to elect an Andhra-born distributor to become the next president. “This thinking has to change since trade bodies are apolitical and shouldn't be tainted. These days, trade bodies are meeting up with Chief Ministers of various states only to hike ticket rates and nothing much. Unfortunately, the apex body-Telugu Film Chamber doesn’t even own a building in the last 50 years,” he concludes.