If a movie were to be made with a theme around the Telugu film industry in 2011, it will have all ingredients of a typical South Indian movie – a family story featuring a selfish brother who wants to keep family gold for himself, sibling rivalry, mafia links, invincible villains and no convincing climax. If you go by only numbers it would look like the industry fared great in 2011, with the release of 116 movies, three more than last year's figure. To add to industry woes, only four-five films, including Dookudu (Maheshbabu) and Ala Modalaindi, were straight hits. There were some solid flops too.

Dubbed movies

But the number of dubbed movies was 126. The fact that two out of three movies that were released on the last day of 2011 were dubbed, including the Mammootty-starrer Dronacharya , shows the dominance of dubbed movies. Tamil movies had a cakewalk, giving Telugu movies a run for their money.

This triggered a furore in the industry, with majority of producers calling for curbs on release of dubbed movies. They wanted to put a cap on the number of screens dubbed movies can hit on release. They also want a blanket ban of their release during festive seasons.

This demand has triggered two further demands. Small and medium-sized producers are asking for release of cinema theatres from the clutches of four-five families. They alleged that these families literally control three-fourths of theatres in the State, deciding what film to screen for how many days.

They, in fact, organised a sit-in in December in front of the Office of Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber of Commerce to press for their demands. Exhibitors have a diametrically opposite view. They say dubbed movies are saviours for them as they provide continuous feed.

Not that these problems are new. It is only coming to the fore now as the industry reels under economic recession, slump in real-estate and the movement in support of statehood for Telangana. The first two factors had weakened the base, while the latter one disturbed functioning of the industry. Hundreds of those who depend on a variety of film crafts have lost jobs.

Natti Kumar, a small producer, understands this better. Till recently, he headed the Producers' Council of the Chamber. “I have put in my papers because I was not able to solve the problems of fellow producers. Taxation in the State is very high. There are no guidelines to levy and collect Service Tax. Producers with knowledge of industry dynamics are coming and spoiling the scene,” he points out.

Besides impacting turnouts at theatres, the Telangana movement had a direct impact on the industry during the year. Telangana activists had attacked several film shoots in the region, including those of Maheshbabu and Raviteja. Producers had to shift their shooting spots to locations outside the region, resulting in increase in cost of production.

The industry sees no reason to hope for better times in 2012. “There are no signs to make us think that the New Year would be better,” Kumar said.

But the tinsel world would say: Never say die. It is pinning hopes on three high-profile releases during Sankranti. Maheshbabu's Businessman , Venkatesh' Bodyguard and Raviteja's Nippu are slated for release. It expects a revival in its fortunes, with the political movement turning stable.

> kurmanath@thehindu.co.in

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