Ever since the face-off between multiplex owners and film producers got over, there’s been a visual deluge of big ticket Bollywood offerings at multiplexes.
While the Hindi film industry reeling from a reportedly Rs 300 crore loss (due to the strike and IPL matches) needed its recent releases Kambakkht Ishq and New York to spin the BO magic, it seems to have cost the local film industry dear.
The policy of multiplex owners to allot more screens to Bollywood blockbusters could tilt the scales against Telugu films and is likely to dent their box-office collections. However, Krishnamurthy Kishen, head marketing of a leading multiplex chain clarifies that Bollywood and Tollywood films get equal weightage when it comes to assigning screens. He says, “We always try to strike a balance between regional and other films without riding on just one language hit.” Airing a diametrically opposite view is Devaneni Prasad, director of another city-based multiplex, who claims that recent Telugu films haven’t really fared well. “With Telugu films not setting box-office afire, we’ll have more screens for Bollywood blockbusters. However, now Telugu producers have more choices with new multiplexes coming up,” he reasons.
There are around 20 multiplex screens in the city with rentals varying from Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000 per show. With lots of Bollywood films lined up for release, Telugu filmmakers are wary of releasing their films at city plexes. “Of course, we need to plan our release dates properly. Bollywood films are the main stay for multiplexes,” avers filmmaker Sridhar Reddy, who feels regional movie buffs will eventually opt for a single theatre over multiplexes because of the ticket price.
Ashish, honcho of a chain of multiplexes, rules out such worries. “We provide a level-playing field for all language filmmakers,” he assures.
With a slew of big-ticket Hindi films slated to hit the screens in the next few weeks, the battle lines are drawn between Bollywood and Tollywood films.
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