20th June 2003

AP Film Chambers met the press today (20th June) under the leadership of BV Reddy and held a pressmeet. Speaking on the occasion, BV Reddy said that Telugu film industry has lost 60 crores so far in this year due to the dismal failures of big budget films. BV Reddy attributed this crisis to the inflated remunerations of stars and technicians. He urged stars and technicians to bring down their remunerations to cut the cost of film production. BV Reddy professed that if this situation continues for a couple of years, Telugu film industry would face the situation that Hindi film industry is currently facing. He also said that mafia has entered the film industry and he possesses solid proofs about it.

BV Reddy has also touched the issue of video piracy. And mentioned that big producers are trying to attack pirates only when their own films release. Otherwise, they are not caring about piracy. He said that there has been no support to stop piracy against small films. He urged that the producers should be united and fight the piracy unanimously.

He also opined that its time for the AP Government to chip and dole the film industry out of crisis. BV Reddy said that he is been trying to get the appointment of Chief Minister of AP for a long time to meet and discuss the issue related to Telugu film industry. But CM has not been granting him time to hear the problems. BV Reddy said that FDC (Film Development Counsel), which is under supervision of Government has not been able to do any substantiual contribution to the growth of film industry. He also said that the Government should do something about reducing the taxes on cinema halls to stop exhibitors from converting their cinema halls into shopping complexes or marriage halls.