Telangana Exhibitors Put Peddi Under Pressure Again

The theatre issue surrounding Peddi is once again turning complicated in Telangana. Just when things appeared to calm down after discussions between producers, exhibitors and distributors, the matter has now resurfaced strongly ahead of the film’s release.

For the last few weeks, Telangana exhibitors have been demanding the implementation of the percentage system in single screen theatres instead of the existing rental model. Producers, however, are reportedly unwilling to make sudden changes for films that are already in production and ready for release.

Earlier, both sides agreed to form a committee with representatives from producers, exhibitors and distributors to find an acceptable solution. That move temporarily cooled down the tension and gave hope that Peddi would avoid any release hurdles.

But before the committee could submit its report, exhibitors once again came before the media and issued fresh conditions. They clearly stated that Peddi would be screened in single screen theatres only if the percentage system is implemented.

Exhibitors also revealed that multiple discussions had already happened with the Telugu Film Chamber. According to them, the issue was supposed to be resolved around the release time of Hari Hara Veera Mallu, but producers have allegedly been delaying the matter continuously for months.

Exhibitors argue that theatres once enjoyed strong revenues years ago, but collections and profits have now dropped heavily. They say almost the entire country follows the percentage model while Telangana still runs on rentals. With Peddi being one of the biggest upcoming films, this issue is now becoming a serious concern for the industry once again.