Telangana Exhibitors Firmly Demand Revenue Share From Success of Film Peddi
Theater owners in Telangana are firm in their demand for a 7.5% revenue share from the surplus generated by the film Peddi's ticket price hikes, sparking a tense dispute with producer Satish Kilaru that awaits a final decision from trade bodies.
Highlights
- •Telangana exhibitors are demanding a 7.5% share of additional revenue from Peddi.
- •The film Peddi has reached a collection share of Rs 140 crore in Telugu states.
- •Producer Satish Kilaru claims he was not consulted about the revenue-sharing agreement.
- •Industry trade bodies are under pressure to resolve the dispute between producers and exhibitors.
Tensions remain high in the regional film industry as Telangana exhibitors continue to demand their promised 7.5% revenue share from the additional income generated by the sports drama Peddi. Industry participants are standing firm, arguing that the agreement regarding hiked ticket prices must be honored as previously committed by the relevant trade organizations.
Exhibitors are emphasizing that their demand specifically targets only the surplus revenue accumulated through increased ticket pricing and premiere show rentals, rather than the regular box office collections. The film Peddi has seen significant success, accumulating a share of Rs 140 crore across Telugu-speaking states to date. Proponents of the exhibitors' stance argue that this request is both logical and fair, given the prior assurances provided by trade bodies.
Dispute Over Revenue Sharing Agreement
The core of the conflict lies in the implementation of the 7.5% revenue-sharing model. While the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce reportedly issued formal communications to Vriddhi Cinemas regarding this arrangement in late May, the producer of Peddi, Satish Kilaru, has contested the decision. He maintains that he was not informed of this commitment and that the policy was implemented without his explicit consent, especially while he was focused on the film's promotional activities.
Two separate meetings have taken place to address the impasse. During these discussions, Satish Kilaru requested that his film be exempted from the agreed-upon sharing structure, but no consensus was reached between the parties. In response to the producer's refusal, theater owners have expressed strong objections. Some exhibitors have even suggested taking unilateral action by deducting their share directly from the collections before remitting the remaining funds to distributors and producers.
Impact on Industry Credibility
The handling of this dispute has drawn criticism regarding the leadership within the industry's trade bodies. A senior member of the Chamber voiced concerns that the perceived lack of resolve in settling this matter is affecting the credibility of both the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce and the Telangana Film Chamber of Commerce. There is a strong sentiment that these institutions should maintain authority in resolving internal disputes to ensure industry stability.
Vijayender Reddy, representing a large coalition of approximately 260 single-screen theaters in Telangana, confirmed that negotiations are ongoing. While the disagreement persists, there is a prevailing confidence among the exhibitor community that the commitments made prior to the theatrical release of Peddi will eventually be upheld. The trade bodies are expected to reach a final determination shortly as they attempt to reconcile the interests of producers and theater operators.
