‘Not OTT Or TV, But Popcorn Is Killing The Cinema’

Director Teja is known for his frankness and at times, he brings out a new perspective on a topic and here he is at it again. Director Teja interviewed Gopichand for the latter’s new movie Rama Banam promotions and more than about the movie, Teja’s words are going viral.

Teja says that he has one big complaint against popcorn in multiplexes. Teja states that it is popcorn in multiplexes that is killing cinema. Teja says that the prices of popcorn and other food in multiplexes have gone way up and beyond the actual movie ticket price.

Teja says, ‘The prices of coke and popcorn are not reachable for a common man in multiplexes. I watch a movie with popcorn and samosa. Many think that it is OTT or TV that killed Hindi cinema in Bombay, but it is popcorn that did it. Popcorn could not kill Telugu cinema because we have single screens here and I recommend everyone go to a single screen. The screen is bigger. Where there are many multiplexes, the cinema could not survive. We can’t imagine a movie without popcorn. It is not the multiplex or the cinema itself, but the popcorn is killing cinema.’

Well, director Harish Shankar also tweeted this part from the interview stressing the need for it to be addressed. As Teja said, the popcorn, coke, and nachos and fries prices are scaring the families away from the multiplexes and it is an issue that needs to be focused on.

Though there is a point in what Teja said, some people disagree with it saying that a movie released on OTT in less than 30 days after theatrical release is the main reason for weak footfalls at theaters. Some also opine that the ticket prices also impact the cinema, even on some single screens.