Percentage Issue: Big Hurdle For Peddi

“When Telugu filmmakers who are releasing their pan-Indian films on a percentage system in Maharashtra, Karnataka and other northern states, why do they have a problem giving the same percentage here to single screens in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh?” asked producer Sirish Reddy, brother of Dil Raju, at ‘Save the Single Screens’ press meet today. When quizzed if they are doing this agitation right in front of Peddi’s release, a film that the trade expects to revive theatres big time, he has interesting things to share.

Sirish Reddy asked that many producers are commenting that they will run the theatres if we can’t run it, but if we say the same about making movies, will they agree? He stated that if the percentage system is not allowed by the producers, then there is no question of allowing any big release in single screens. Also he adds, “If even a government gives GO for ticket hike, we will not be hiking ticket prices in our theatres, because we’re not going to hike our rental value anyway”. Looks like it is going to be a big threat if the issues are not resolved before the release of Peddi movie.

Also, many are wondering why Telugu producers are not interested in giving a percentage system to Telugu screens when they are doing the same at other places? “Even the likes of Pushpa did well, but only people in the North enjoyed the benefits, not us” he says. At the same time, Sirish Reddy also stated that there are almost 100 single screens shut down since the release of “RRR” movie, and that’s how single screens are getting disappeared. The only solution he says is a percentage system only.