The veteran producer asks why the producers' guild exist. He contends there is no purpose served in blaming digital platforms for the losses being incurred by the theatres.
Published Jul 29, 2022 | 12:38 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 29, 2022 | 6:31 PM
Aswini Dutt has two major projects up his sleeves: Sitaramam & Project K. (Twitter)
The simmering tensions in the Telugu film industry have boiled over yet again.
Well-known producer Aswini Dutt created a stir when he openly wondered why the Active Telugu Film Producers Guild (ATFPG) — which recently called a halt to all film shootings from August 1 — even exists, when the Telugu Film Producers’ Council (TFPC) has been looking after the welfare of producers for a long time now.
At a press conference convened to promote his upcoming venture Sitaramam (starring Dulquer Salmaan, Mrunal Thakur and Rashmika Mandanna) on Thursday, 28 July, Dutt did not mince his words.
“Since its inception, the council has been resolving the issues in the industry, and not actors like NT Ramarao, Nageswara Rao or others. So, why are we involving the actors now,” he questioned.
Dutt admitted that filmmakers were having a tough time drawing crowds to the theatres, especially post-Covid.
“However, it was a foolish act to urge the (Andhra Pradesh) chief minister to increase/decrease the ticket prices every now and then. This has apparently taken a heavy toll on theatre revenues,” he said.
“Ironically, the very same people who sought an increase in the ticket rates are now protesting against the move and have conveniently voted for a shooting bandh. Clearly, today’s producers (guild) lack consistency,” he added.
Interestingly, while Dutt, a veteran producer, is himself not a member of the guild, his daughter and producer Swapna Dutt (of Swapna Cinema) is. His statements only underlined the fact that the Telugu film industry is divided over the decision to halt film shootings from 1 August.
While the members of the guild voluntarily decided to halt shootings at a meeting held recently, the council (which mostly consists of small and new producers as its members) declared that they would continue the shoots.
Before the ticket price hike, a section of producers had set up a chain of theatres (multiplexes) across the two Telugu-speaking states and started selling snacks/drinks at exorbitant rates. This apparently discouraged families from visiting the cinema halls, Dutt pointed out.
“With the emergence and expansion of OTT platforms, the people bade adieu to the big screens altogether. Even so, there’s no use in blaming digital platforms for the losses being incurred by the theatres; a producer can still earn money through OTT releases if the theatrical release fails to make a mark. There are many such reasons for the losses the industry is enduring of late,” he observed.
Dutt was critical of some producers who are blaming the heroes/stars for charging hefty remuneration.
“The actors are paid as per their market value by different producers, which I don’t want to comment upon. Nevertheless, it isn’t true that the ticket prices were hiked owing to the hefty remuneration of heroes,” he asserted.
As regards Project K — his future venture with actor Prabhas — Aswini Dutt said it would be an Avengers-type film. It is yet another high-budget film (estimated at a whopping ₹500 crore) to be made in Telugu after Rajamouli’s RRR.
“Prabhas has a terrific role to play in it. Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan is portraying a never-before-seen character. The audience will be in for a huge surprise,” he said.
Project K also features Deepika Padukone and Disha Pathani in key roles. Nag Ashwin is the director and Mickey J Meyer is the music composer.
“We are eyeing international markets, including China and the US, for Project K. We will mostly wrap up the shooting by January 2024 and release it on 18 October 2024,” he added.
