The ongoing tussle between Telangana film exhibitors and producers has become a major talking point in the Telugu film industry. Exhibitors are now pushing for a percentage-based system instead of the rental model, and discussed their stance at a meeting held on Tuesday.
On this occasion, Bunny Vas, who is also a producer, distributor, and exhibitor, shared his perspective. He said both producers and exhibitors are facing losses, and stressed the need to focus on the root cause rather than blaming each other. He noted that theatre footfall has dropped significantly, while the burden on the limited number of moviegoers has increased due to rising ticket prices.
“Today, we see films collecting hundreds of crores. But these collections are not because audience numbers have increased — it’s mainly due to higher ticket prices and other rising costs. The average moviegoer has reduced. Instead of improving footfall, we are putting more burden on a smaller audience and calling it massive collections,” said Bunny Vas.
He added that the situation is even worse for small films. “Their revenues have dropped drastically. We are now arguing over how to divide that reduced share, while forgetting why the original income declined. Producers are incurring losses, and single-screen exhibitors are also struggling. This is the reality,” he said. He questioned why the industry is not focusing on identifying and addressing the root causes.
Bunny Vas pointed out several reasons behind the current situation, including delays in film production. “Heroes are taking too long to complete films. Whether one agrees or not, they play a crucial role in bringing audiences to theatres. If a star actor does only one film in two years, audience interest gradually declines. This affects both big and small films,” he explained.
He also highlighted the impact of early OTT releases. “Films are arriving on OTT platforms within just 27 days, which discourages audiences from coming to theatres. There is also a lack of compelling content, making audiences question whether it’s worth spending money on a theatrical experience. High food and beverage prices in multiplexes are another factor,” he said.
According to him, three of these four issues are within the industry’s control. “Only content is not entirely in our hands. Without addressing these concerns, there is no point in arguing over revenue-sharing percentages. Otherwise, we will continue fighting over shrinking revenues without any real benefit,” he added.
He concluded by stressing that resolving the core issues is more important than internal conflicts. “What is the use of fighting over declining revenues without fixing the root problem?” he questioned.