Tollywood Industry Disarray: 1400 Single Screen Theatres Shut in Last 10 Years

Ahead of Peddi’s theatrical release, Tollywood is in disarray. The Telangana Exhibitors Association, led by Shirish Reddy, Suniel Narang, and others, told the press on Tuesday that theatres (single screens) have been in a lurch for many years, with the vast majority of theatres in Hyderabad temporarily closed due to the lack of a movie release that matters. Their troubles have gone from bad to worse this year, with footfalls dwindling to alarming levels across Telangana (referred to as the Nizam market in film trade circles). They have urged producers to introduce a percentage-based system for theatres and do away with the rental system. If the producers do not agree to their demand, all theatres (barring multiplexes) will be shut down from the last week of May.

Peddi revenues to be impacted?

The proposed strike, which will most likely be withdrawn after talks, comes just twenty days before the theatrical release of Peddi. The Ram Charan-starrer is the single most important Tollywood release in terms of budget and scale so far this year after The Raja Saab. Its budget is massive, and its producers are planning to secure ticket rate hikes in the Telugu States to capitalize on the craze surrounding the movie. At this juncture, Shirish Reddy and other exhibitors have categorically stated that they will not implement hikes even if the Telangana government permits them. (This may result in shorter revenues), and this is the first time such a statement has been made. Typically, exhibitors, distributors, and producers have been on the same page regarding ticket rates.

Exhibitors suggest that family audiences stay away from theatres because of the increase in ticket prices for big-ticket movies. In recent years, movies like RRR and films featuring major stars like Prabhas, along with Pawan Kalyan’s movies such as OG, have opted for ticket rate hikes through Government Orders.

Tollywood lagging behind?

For years, Tollywood has been projected as an industry in perfect order, producing pan-Indian films like Baahubali, RRR, and Pushpa. However, the reality is grim. In the last ten years, hundreds of single screens have ceased to exist in the Telugu States. “1400 single screen theatres have been shut in the last 10 years,” rues an exhibitor, adding that the fate of the remaining ones is hanging in balance. The plight of the single screens has been worsened by shorter theatrical windows in its handling of OTT windowing (the four-week window, as against Bollywood’s eight-week window). And the current stalemate between exhibitors and producers further adds to the existing woes.

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