Film producers set to face the ire

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VIJAYAWADA: The Federation of Andhra Pradesh Cine Exhibitors (FACE) has decided to oppose the move of Telugu film producers to res..

VIJAYAWADA: The Federation of Andhra Pradesh Cine Exhibitors (FACE) has decided to oppose the move of Telugu film producers to restrict the screening of dubbing movies in the state at the meeting of Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber of Commerce scheduled to be held in Hyderabad on November 30.
The two-decade-old FACE had not been active in recent times. But the exhibitors from across the state who met here on Saturday, resolved to fight unitedly against the recommendation of film producers.Speaking on the occasion, FACE president JN Choudary feared that the producers' decision might spell the doom for exhibitors' business. On an average, dubbing movies are screened for 25 weeks in a year.

Screening of dubbing movies is essential for the survival of theatres in the state.

There are 3,200 theatres in the state. But only 1,800 are running. If the state government accepts the recommendation of producers on screening of dubbing movies, more theatres particularly in 'A' and 'B' class centres will face closure.

It is advisable for some top stars who are taking a whopping remuneration of Rs 10 crore, to act in at least three movies a year by reducing their remuneration. The number of films with a cast of top heroes and heroines has come down in recent years due to abnormal rise in the filmmaking budget. Some films starring top actors are produced with a budget of Rs 50 crore to Rs 60 crore.

FACE general secretary RV Bhupal Prasad demanded that the state government withdraw entertainment tax on films to revive the sick industry. It may be noted here that no tax is imposed on TV and other means of entertainment in the state, he said. At present, 7 per cent of entertainment tax is being collected on small budget films and 15 per cent on big budget films.

Some exhibitors are of the view that there is no novelty in most of the Telugu films and the quality of films is on the decline of late. So there is also a fall in the number of cinegoers.

Without dubbing movies, Telugu audience will find it difficult to understand English box office hits like Avathar and Titan and Tamil films like Robo and Seventh Sense, said C Ravikumar, an exhibitor from Miryalaguda.