Time for reckoning for Tollywood
Hyderabad: The week ahead will see Tollywood bigwigs trying to save the industry from the flooding dubbing films which, according to industry pundits, are cutting into straight films' revenue and seek more sops for home productions.
Producers' Council meeting followed by Film Chamber meeting is expected to produce some favourable proposals, though there would be resistance from exhibitors on fixing the number of screenings of dubbing films.
The request to double the Entertainment Tax for dubbing films and slash it further down for home productions besides granting permission for a fifth show would be the main demands of the meeting.
Armed with the ratified resolution, the Film body will approach the State Government to implement its demands. The script is so far fine and sounds reasonable.
Situation differs from one State to the other depending on various factors. There are many unanswered questions from the Film Chamber and its affiliated bodies.
Heroine, villain and character artistes are being imported from other states and the Producers have agreed that there can be three artistes from outside. Technicians are also imported and recently the stunt masters grappled in the open and it went on like a Tamil vs Telugu slanging match.
Giving space for small budget films, ensuring employment to local artistes and technicians is a must, claims one section of the industry as they are the beneficiaries of the Government in many ways.
The moral question is how you can fight only for rights without fulfilling the responsibilities. Film Chamber also has issues with the Censor Board which needs to be resolved and its affiliate body Movie Artistes Association (MAA) also has the membership issue to tackle.
Many imports, more so heroines, are not members of MAA and are in circulation while many members do not get chances. The Association can impose ban on the artistes, but commercial interests refrain it from doing so.
This apart, piracy is the other issue that needs to be tackled with the government help. First the industry should look at its own house and set it in order.
News Posted: 27 November, 2011
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