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Tollywood actors shock Producers on their new Move

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The Tollywood Producers kept the film shoots on hold for a month and they have decided to implement their new plans. The character artists who are charging a bomb are asked to pay the expenses of their staff and travel on their own. The Producers also decided to pay them a fixed remuneration instead of paying them on a regular basis. The discussions are on for the ongoing projects and the films that will commence shoots soon.

Most of the character actors have now been demanding huge remuneration as a package after the new rules are imposed by the Producers. This turned out to be a new headache for the producers. Without taking any individual decisions, the producers are in plans to meet once again about these fat paycheques. The personal expenses of the staff have reached the skies already. Most of them are demanding special food and transport to the shooting location. To cut down these expenses, the producers stepped out with this move but this turned out to be a new headache for filmmakers.

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Exclusive updates from the Tollywood Producers’ Meeting

Almost all the top producers of Telugu cinema met yesterday to discuss about the heaping up budgets and how to bring things to a control. The producers of Telugu cinema decided to put the shoots on hold from August 1st. The producers also decided not to start the shoots of new films till things are resolved. The most discussed is about the remunerations of the stars that touched the skies and about the cap of digital release. Here are the updates of the meeting:

Most of the stars are taking a huge remuneration which is turning a stress for the producers. The filmmakers are in plans to slash down the remunerations and offer profits to the stars after the film’s release.

The theatrical revenues have come down drastically and the producers are incurring losses if the films are not doing well in theatres. The major reason happens to be the early OTT deals. All the agreements made after August 1st will see the digital release only after 50 days of the theatrical release.

The expenses on the sets have increased drastically and the producers discussed how to cut down the expenses. The remunerations of the character actors too increased badly. Every small actor has been demanding a caravan. The actresses have been demanding expenses for their staff along with accommodation and daily wages for the staff members.

Some of the actors are not turning up to the sets till 11 AM. The producers also discussed about the timings on the sets and how to reduce the number of working days.

Some of the actresses have been demanding outside food and the producers argued that the actress has to bear the expenses if she is not willing to have the provided food.

Several actors have been imposing their personal expenses on the producers. They discussed about how to avoid these expenses of stars. This is burning the pockets of the producers.

The interests for the films have been turning a huge stress for the producers. If the film’s release is delayed, it would be an extra burden for the makers.

There are also discussions about the hero and director bearing partial losses if the producer loses big money.

For now, there is a healthy discussion among the producers about cost cutting in the coming future. The shoots of Telugu films will come to a halt from August 1st.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

The Evolution of Female Leads in Tollywood

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In a male dominated society we live in, the similar outlook reflects in Cinema as well where the hero is the center stage of everything. The hero is quite invincible and can do literally anything which comes in his way. While the hero is portrayed as a strong personality, the role of heroine is usually confined to glamour or stunning looks. Either she is a damsel in distress, or follows what the male characters in the film ask her to do.

But from times immemorial when Cinema started off, there were performance based actresses like Savitri in the 50s and 60s, Vanisri and Jayasudha in the 70s, and Suhasini and Revathi in the 80s to name primarily. These actresses carried themselves with aura and dignity which earned them unique fan following. They were not clinging to the male counterparts and made individual decisions in the roles they fitted in. At some point of time,their roles also dominated the male protagonist making the spirit of womanhood much alive!Directors like Vamsi, K.Vishwanath and Bapu were quite on the forefront to showcase the feminism aspect of women in every film of theirs.

However, commercial cinema has been more on the forefront in Tollywood where female leads were again shunned into backstage. But actresses like Soundarya did amazing films like Anthapuram which are again strongly based on female strength. Thanks to directors like Sekhar Kammula, Indraganti Mohanakrishna and so on, the strong female lead is back in Tollywood. Their heroines never take nonsense from a hero, and carry themselves with an authority and persona of own. The recent revelation Sai Pallavi in Fida is another wonderful example of a female lead that is spirited, fun and also downright beautiful.

It is great to see more Telugu films coming up with bold and beautiful female leads who carry themselves with tremendous grace and poise. They are the voice of today’s woman that doesn’t hesitate to make an entry in style and also make her point quite strongly.

Telugu360 wishes all its readers a Happy International Woman’s Day!

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Suresh Babu press meet: Issues, Preachings and Facts

Suresh Babu recently convened a press meet. He is the presenter of the recent movie “Mental madhilo” which bagged critical acclaim but not so good collections. In this meet Suresh Babu spoke about various issues related to film industry like issues with digital service providers, satellite system and percentage system in theater exhibition.

Suresh Babu spoke about Mental Madhilo movie for which he is presenter. Despite getting good ratings, the movie did not perform up to expectations or potential. He attributed 2 reasons for that – one, Satellite and two, the title. He told, the satellite system has changed Telugu film industry completely. Initially movies used to get telecast in TV after one year or so. Now, in one month after release movie is aired on TV. So audience not willing to come to theater to watch the movie as they think they can watch the movie on TV very soon. Second reason he mentioned is the title of the movie. He told “Mental madhilo” title may be apt for the story but that could not excite audience enough to drag them towards theaters. But his argument about satellite system has a flaw. Many small movies get almost their total investments only from satellite and the channels wont pay such hefty amounts if they are not allowed to telecast the movie as early as possible after the release.

He made these comments in success meet of the movie “Mental Madhilo”. But he made some satirical comments on success meets of the movies in general. He questioned, how can some makers convene success meets on first day of the release. Such success meets should be convened after some days of successful running of the movie, he remarked.

He also talked about “Theater percentage system”. This topic has been discussed for several years and late Dasari was always vocal on this issue. He told percentage system is good for small movies but big movies prefer rental system. For example if a small movie is made in 1 Cr and it collects 4 crores, there will be a tax of approximately 1 crore and remaining 3 crores will be on percentage basis between producer and exhibitor. If it is on 60-40 (for example), producer will get 1.8 crore and exhibitor will get 1.2 crores. But if it is a medium budget movie made in 10 crore, collects 40 crores, tax will be 10 crore, producer will get 18 crore and exhibitor will get 12 crore. But big producers prefer to deal it on rental system – in which they will pay approximately 3 crores (against 12 crores in percentage system) only to exhibitors in rental system. But if same rental system applied to small films collecting 4 crores, they will also have to pay same 3 crores which is the total collection minus tax leaving them with 1 crore loss of investment. So ALWAYS small producers want percentage system and ALWAYS big producers want rental system. Theater owners want a uniform system whether rental system for all movies or percentage system for all movies. Suresh Babu says industry needs to sit and resolve this issue.

He agreed that there is no unity in the industry but he called for united action from the entire industry to resolve these issues.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Drug Racket: KCR says not targeting TFI but will punish criminals

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Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday reviewed the details on the contentious Drugs case along with the senior officials. The meeting reviewed the proceedings of the case and the next steps to be taken in the drug racket exposed in Hyderabad. Key people have been identified in the case. The details of the peddlers and that of the drug addicts has been established.

KCR said that individuals of the Telugu film industry were found using narcotics. Cases will be filed against celebrities who are involved in selling and supplying of drugs. He said that it is unfair to say that the government has targeted the film industry. It was reported that 12 people from the film fraternity were allegedly using narcotics.

All the individual consuming drugs will be treated as victims irrespective of the fields they are associated. KCR clarified that only the traders and suppliers will be treated as criminals. Using drugs is not a criminal offence, but narcotic business is a crime. He made it clear that the criminals would be punished and the victims will not be shamed.

CM KCR has announced Rs 1 lakh reward for anyone who provides information on Drugs and Gudumba in the state. He said the use of drugs in Telangana is not high. He said that a deep investigation is being undertaken to eradicate the menace in its initial stage. He said that the government will ensure to foil any attempt to supply drugs in the state.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Tollywood being the scapegoat in Drug racket probe

Tollywood director Puri Jagannadh on Wednesday was probed for nearly ten hours by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Hyderabad regarding the Drug menace. After a long wait the director returned home with his family without speaking to media. Puri posted a video in twitter about the investigation and the problems he has been facing from the past few days. Puri said his family has been completely shattered because of media and that he was feeling sad about the stories and allegations. Is media alone to blame or did Telugu Film Industry (TFI) fail to lobby?

It all started a month ago, when the enforcement officials found that about 1000 students of prominent private schools and colleges in Hyderabad were consuming high-end drugs. Officials sent notices to over 50 schools and colleges. Few names of the schools were exposed but officials denied any such move. Politicians and school managements expressed disgruntlement for exposing the names of some educational institutions. Politicians were reportedly enraged over Enforcement Director for exposing the drug racket without informing the Ministry of education and also for sending notices to the schools.

When the drug menace was exposed a director and a producer were also found. Nobody even tried to guess the names or taint the industry. But the moment 11 people were given notices, media and people started playing “guess who” game. The names were leaked but officials again denied any such move. No one was angry for sending notices to actors and directors. The media intrusion into the lives of these actors has increased. Each person will be probed for hours, the trail is going to last longer and the focus will remain on TFI. Clearly the lives of the Tollywood personalities are less private compared to that of other people.

Soon the officials uncovered the politicians’ kin were found on the list of the accused Calvin. Neither names nor number of people involved has seeped. When Congress leader Digvijay Singh tweeted that certain leader’s friends were high on drugs, KTR took to twitter to stand up against such allegations.

Nobody took stand for TFI or against the stories being promoted in the Media. MAA admitted that Tollywood has links with drug mafia, and it warned the people. Furthermore, it said that it will co-operate with the police. But none of them came in support of these eleven actors who got notices. The families of Puri and Ravi Teja had to come out and speak about themselves.

MAA even said that it is the collective responsibility of the film industry to foil the circle. It is evident that the schools and politicians could lobby with the government but TFI failed to do so even in hiding the names of the people. The focus from the kin of bigwigs shifted to Tollywood which now has become a stooge in the whole drug mafia.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Exorbitant prices for Telugu cinemas’ overseas rights

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The market for Telugu cinema in Overseas has taken an upturn after the roaring success of SS Rajamouli‘s crowd pleasing epic Baahubali. The film notched up a gross of 7 Million dollars in its full run setting up a huge overseas record. Following suit, Prince Mahesh Babu’s recent outing Srimanthudu also raked in terrific numbers. It has notched up around 2.9 Million dollars. Recently released Nani’s ‘Bhale Bhale Magadivoi’ also set the cash registers ringing with its superb collections in the first week.

One would feel that the appetite for Telugu films in Overseas has thoroughly increased and no wonder the producers of the many upcoming films are demanding unreasonable prices for the distribution rights. Take for example, the producer of Trivikram-Nithin project is claiming 4 Crores for the Overseas rights. So, has the market for Telugu cinema really increased ? Are the overseas distributors advisable to bag the Overseas rights for huge prices ? Let us find out.

For Bahubali, so many factors worked in its favor.It was directed by the most successful filmmaker and also has an ensemble cast. In fact, it is a magnum opus made out of an extravagant budget. Srimanthudu was able to notch up solid numbers as Mahesh Babu carries an enviable fan following in Overseas. Many of his previous movies collected terrific figures and so did Srimanthudu. Moreover, both Bahubali and Srimanthudu garnered positive response right from the first day and it has helped both films to register superb collections.

Nani’s ‘Bhale Bhale Magadivoi’ is an exception as not all medium and low budget movies can repeat the magic as it did. We usually find very less number of movies like ‘Bhale Bhale Magadivoi’ which can have such a tremendous run at the box office. Although it collected good numbers,due to high number of screens rented for this movie, the rentals will cut down the share and the distributors may end up with average profits. Reportedly this movie’s USA share would be less than 3 crores even though it has grossed 7 crores.

Prospective overseas buyers who are excited about back to back success of recent telugu movies,please be reminded of the fact that if any movie fails to reach the expectation of audience the distributors will suffer huge loss. In India ,even if a movie is a failure, it will recover 70% of the investment in many cases but in USA if a movie fails it is hard to recover even 10% of the investment

So, the overseas distributors must be extra cautious while buying the overseas rights of the upcoming films and it is advisable that they should not fall into the lure of the Telugu movie producers.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

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