Stop It! You Can’t Separate Hyderabad & Tollywood

In the last couple of days, there have been many debates about the shift of the Telugu film industry from Telangana to Andhra Pradesh. Some of the politicians in Andhra Pradesh are intentionally stating that they would welcome Tollywood to the state. But, just because a few issues popped up, the film industry can not be shifted to a different state.

According to us, it is irrelevant, illogical, unrealistic, and impossible.

Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan also stated that the state should set up a film industry. He expressed an opinion that if a film industry is set up, it will create more employment. He made these statements in the context of developing the state on the tourism front. However, many opportunists attributed the unrealistic theory of shifting the film industry to AP to his comments.

It may be partially true that the latest developments in the film industry are not a good sign. The ties between the government of Telangana and the Telugu film industry also landed in an unamusing state of confusion. But then, you can not separate Hyderabad and Tollywood.

Like Telangana IT Minister Sridhar Babu said, Telangana has an established eco-system that is favorable for the functioning and development of the film industry. He made it very clear that the film industry will continue to exist in Telangana, but the filmmakers can travel to any part of the world, including Andhra Pradesh, to shoot their films, and at the end of the day, they return to Hyderabad, Telangana to where they actually belong.

In reality, you can not build a Ramoji Film City overnight. You can not establish something like Annapurna Studios or Ramanaidu Studios with state-of-the-art facilities in an year or two. The governments may offer subsidies, special privileges, and all kinds of support, but building an eco-system is an altogether different ball game.

Moreover, producer Naga Vamshi also stated in the press interaction of Daaku Maharaaj that he has his base in Hyderabad and he resides here. According to him, when he is settled here, there is no point in even thinking about shifting the industry to a different place. It is not just his case, but everyone who is a part of the film industry today is very comfortable and happy in Telangana. They absolutely has no thought of moving to other places.

Already, Hyderabad has been placed on the world map as a hub for investments. Films like Baahubali, RRR, Pushpa and many other pan–India films brought recognition to Hyderabad at the International level. No filmmaker would make a mistake to change this identity and land in an identity crisis.

Then, what is the solution?

The majority of the issues are stemming from the hiked ticket prices. The producers and distributors want it because of the over-budget. Indirectly, the heroes/stars are responsible for it as they take home huge pay checks. The producers have no say in it because they are not the one who are in a position to either demand or order. The heroes are definitely playing a different game of their own market values. They are comfortable and would only want to grow with each film. But, the exhibitors and theatre owners are vexed with the hiked ticket prices as it poses a threat to the survival of the theatres. The emergence of the OTT platforms is also another potential threat to the film industry.

So, it’s time that all stakeholders collectively recognize and acknowledge the issues that would ruin the functioning of the film industry. The heroes must be accommodating in terms of the remunerations and the producers must also spend according to the value of the product. Simultaneously, the ticket prices must be in a check to pull crowds to theatres and also crack tight deals with the OTT platforms about bringing the films online only after a long time after they release in theatres.

Nothing can change overnight and it happens gradually, in a phased manner. But, what is important that the people must be willing to adapt to the change and keep the eco-system alive. If that does not happen, no state would be the right choice for the film industry to display its glory.