Why Is Tollywood Silent On AP’s New Proposal?

The Andhra Pradesh government’s startling new move to launch a portal to track movie ticket sales seems to have left the entire Telugu film industry perplexed. Barring director Deva Katta, none of the prominent Tollywood celebrities have dared to react on this issue so far.

More than the idea behind the new G.O., the timing of its announcement seems to have left our celebrities in a state of dilemma. A team of Tollywood representatives, led by Chiranjeevi, will soon be meeting AP CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to discuss his government’s previous decision to cap the ticket prices. It looks like they are not ready to make any public statement regarding the latest G.O. ahead of their meeting with the CM.

Jagan circar’s new diktat will surely come across as a jolt to the producers, distributors and exhibitors. The new move will be lapped by moviegoers as it ensures transparency in the sale of movie tickets and their pricing. However, it will leave the exhibitors and producers cough up more taxes and file GSTs accurately.

Until now, Tollywood’s representatives including top actors, producers and exhibitors have been chalking out a modus operandi to discuss and convince Jagan regarding the ultra low pricing of movie tickets at single screens and multiplexes across the state. They now have a fresh headache to deal with in the form of the movie ticket portal.

Even though they are not going public with their opinions, several Tollywood personalities are fuming over the AP government’s new proposal. “If the CM is hell-bent on collecting more taxes from us, let him increase the ticket prices first,” is their collective opinion.

On the other hand, netizens are criticising Tollywood’s silence on the AP government’s new proposal. “These celebrities were the first to sing praises for Jagan when he announced small and insignificant relief measures to revive movie theaters. But their mouths are sealed now,” Twitterati mocked.