Most leading producers continue to base their business operations in Hyderabad and show little interest in contributing to Andhra Pradesh’s film industry or supporting its government initiatives
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy (Photos: X)
A leading exhibitor from Andhra Pradesh has raised concerns about an alleged bias among top Tollywood producers toward Telangana, despite earning a significant share of their revenue from Andhra Pradesh.
According to him, nearly 70% of a Telugu film’s box office collections come from Andhra Pradesh, while only 30% originate from Telangana. Yet, most leading producers continue to base their business operations in Hyderabad and show little interest in contributing to Andhra Pradesh’s film industry or supporting its government initiatives.
“With producers and their offices primarily located in Hyderabad, there is minimal effort to invest in Andhra Pradesh or support its government’s film policies,” he stated.
Citing a recent example, he pointed out that the Andhra Pradesh government sought inputs from the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce and Telugu Film Producers Council to help draft a new film policy beneficial to the industry. However, he claims that the response was delayed. When office bearers finally reached out to members for suggestions, it was at the last minute, leaving many unable to provide their input in time. This, he says, led to frustration among several members.
The exhibitor also highlighted a taxation disparity that benefits Telangana at Andhra Pradesh’s expense. “Since most production houses are based in Hyderabad, producers file GST Form No. 37 there, directing tax revenues to Telangana. Out of the 18% GST on movie tickets, 9% goes to the Central government, while the remaining 9% is allocated to the respective state,” he explained.
Despite Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu offering to consider a tax refund for producers who file GST in Andhra Pradesh, most continue to remain loyal to Telangana. “Even location charges for shooting in Andhra Pradesh are waived, while filming in Telangana comes with high costs,” he added.
He suggests that many top producers may prefer to maintain strong ties with the Congress-led Telangana government, even though Naidu is known for his pro-industry vision and innovative plans to support Telugu cinema. “Despite Andhra Pradesh offering clear incentives, producers seem unwilling to shift their business interests,” he concluded.
However, Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce Treasurer Prassanna Kumar dismissed the allegations of bias as baseless. “The Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce has always maintained cordial relations with the Andhra Pradesh government and has given multiple representations for consideration,” he asserted.
Regarding the claims of last-minute communication for industry suggestions, he defended the Chamber’s actions. “We have over 7,000 members, including studios, producers, exhibitors, and distributors. Broad consultations are necessary to finalize a collective agenda. But honestly, our members were given ample time to respond, not just at the last minute,” he concluded.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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