Two factors can contribute to the disappearance of single screens in the Telugu States, said producer Bunny Vas of 'Prati Roju Pandage', 'Taxiwaala' and the recent 'Ambajipeta Marriage Band' fame.
Speaking at an event on Friday, he said that repeated postponements of big-hero movies, and the short theatre-OTT window, can spell doom for single screens. Most small Telugu movies get released on OTT within three weeks of their theatrical release.
"In my estimation, 50% of the single screens in AP and Telangana will be shut down if this continues for another three years. Each film will lose 30-40% of its market potential with the collapse of the exhibition sector. The Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam industries have taken steps (to regulate OTT deals). But the Telugu film industry hasn't taken any so far. Producers here agree to do one thing in meetings and do the exact opposite when they go back. Recently, we met with Pawan Kalyan garu. The government must take steps to stem the tide. The Film Chamber and the exhibitors have to sit across the table and sort it out. We also need government intervention like in France," Bunny Vas said.
If cinema theatrs are not to face extinction, early OTT releases of movies has to be stopped forthwith.
