Dude Producer Breaks Silence on Screen-Sharing Controversy

The perennial debate about screen-sharing between straight films and dubbing films in Telugu states and neighbouring Tamil Nadu, which is home to Kollywood film industry, has once grabbed the headlines recently after Tollywood actor Kiran Abbavaram kicked up a controversy when he lamented that his upcoming film K-Ramp is unable to secure decent number of screens there. He openly regretted that our actors cannot get the same amount of love like the way Telugu audiences love Tamil actors.

During one of his latest interviews, Kiran rued that while his film is being denied adequate number of theatres in Tamil Nadu, Kollywood actor Pradeep Ranganathan’s dubbing film Dude, which is also releasing for Diwali along with K-Ramp, is getting good number of screens in Telugu states.

Kiran further expressed disappointment and concern when he said that young Telugu heroes are not getting prominent market despite doing films with solid content whereas many upcoming Tamil heroes have already gained foothold in Tollywood.  

Now, one of the producers from Mythri Movie Makers reacted on this controversy during the Trailer Blast event of ‘Dude’ in Hyderabad today evening. When one journalist asked about the common perception on why Tollywood actors could not secure screens outside outside Telugu states, producer Ravi Shankar asserted that the screen count in Tamil Nadu is comparatively lesser and they will be adjusted according to the word of mouth after the opening day. 

Without pointing anyone or recalling any statements, he denied the prevailing perception that theatres will not be alloted to dubbing films and asked to refrain from complaining or blaming others without any proper reason. He further suggested to come up with strong content to get proper number of screens.

Ravi Shankar further stated that films with promising talk will get screens authomatically and openly assured to share some of the theatres alloted to Dude if any other movie gets blockbuster talk and better reviews. 

Though the producer didn’t name anyone, his statements appear to be a counter to Kiran Abbavaram’s recent views.