Much needed, AP theatres call off strike

It is already known that the exhibition circles in Andhra Pradesh had recently communicated the shocking decision to shut down movie theatres across the state from June. They wanted to show their protest against the existing distribution and profit sharing model between exhibitors and distributors.

While it was obviously going to be detrimental to have such a cinema theatre strike from June 1, considering the fact that multiple new films are arriving corresponding, some middle ground has been found.

The planned theater strike in Andhra Pradesh, initially scheduled for June 1, 2025, has been postponed indefinitely. The decision came after a crucial meeting at the Film Chamber, where over 40 exhibitors, along with several distributors and producers, gathered to discuss long-standing concerns over the rental system and revenue-sharing practices.

With summer releases at stake, the film industry feared that a shutdown would further harm business already affected by piracy, the IPL season, and competition from OTT platforms. Acknowledging these challenges, the stakeholders agreed that halting theatrical operations now would not be in anyone�s best interest.

Instead, they chose to keep theaters open while working toward sustainable, long-term solutions to the industry�s pressing financial issues.

This is a much needed positive reinforcement in the exhibition industry as an indefinite strike could have only made matters worse for everyone involved.