Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is keen on developing the Telugu Film Industry, and the industry, along with the government, has prepared a road map for the purpose. Recently, cinematography minister Talasani Srinivasa Yadav met a few people from the industry to discuss the issue. When asked about it, Ram Mohan Rao, president of the Telangana State Film Chamber of Commerce (TSFCC), said, “The Chief Minister is keen on developing the TFI. Before that the ministry and us, the industry people, are preparing a chart for the Chief Minister’s approval. “The first important issue is a single window system for shootings. We have to take permission from different departments if we want to shoot in the state. We want to make it easy,” he added.
Another issue is to sanction mini cinema theatres at mandal levels. “We are requesting the government to sanction mini theatres, of 200-seat capacities, at the Mandal headquarters. These theatres can be maintained with fewer staff and less money. They can also convert these theatres into cultural centres,” said Ram Mohan. Also, any film released in 75 and below screens should be declared a low-budget one and get tax exemption. He added that another important issue was ticketing. “We want all tickets to be sold online, through the Film Development Corporation (FDC). One can buy tickets at the theatres, but they will have to be put online. It will avoid black marketing, and show how many tickets are actually sold. There are complaints that sometimes theatres show fewer ticket sales to avoid tax. With this system you can’t cheat,” he said.
He added that the present slab system was forcing many theatres to close. “If the show is not houseful they have to still pay full tax, so we are requesting tax on actual tickets rates,” he added. Regarding piracy, Ram Mohan said that they had recently met the IT minister and he had responded positively to it. “He immediately called service providers like Google and asked them to send notices to those who would download a movie from the Internet. They are planning to implement a fine of `1,000 if a person downloads a movie from the Internet,” he says. Another important demand of the industry is that the producer should be given the choice to reduce or hike ticket rates with permission from the Commercial department.
The minister has discussed these issues with officials and the government’s response is apparently positive. “We are going to meet the Chief Minister this month-end and we are expecting a few sops from him,” said Ram Mohan. To another question, he said that he had already requested the minister to revive the Nandi Awards, which had been stopped a few years back. “It gives honour to Telugu films also encourages production of more films,” he said.
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