And now, the Telugu film industry is busy battling a new threat - dubbed films. Veteran filmmaker Ramanaidu's recent outburst at a filmi event that dubbed films should be banned as they are eating into the profits of the Telugu film industry has virtually divided the industry into two camps. "The 700-odd producers in the Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber of Commerce are locked in a tussle over the issue which is not likely to be resolved as there are equal numbers for and against banning dubbed films," says Chamber president Suresh Babu.
While some like Vijender Reddy, President Andhra Pradesh Exhibitors Association and veteran filmmaker Dasari Narayana Rao are of the view that a ban is not the solution and that Tollywood needs to pull up its socks first, there are others like Suresh Babu who point out that "there are issues that need to be addressed, although a ban is not necessarily the solution".
For starters, Telugu films are treated unfairly in Tamil Nadu with a 50 per cent tax on dubbed Telugu films (it is 25 per cent tax here for dubbed Tamil films). In Karnataka, although there is no government ban, there is a 'people's ban' as a result of which Telugu films are released in Karnataka, but the dubbed versions in Kannada don't. Suresh Babu points out that if other states take 'pride' in protecting their film industry it's time for some 'Telugu pride', while adding that a free economy is what we need. "Telugu films should get a fair deal outside the state," he says.
Suresh Babu also advocates a certain time gap for the release of dubbed films so that they do not clash with the release of local films. However, Vijender Reddy thinks the issue needs to be dealt with differently. "Dubbed films have been an integral part of our film industry for the last 10 years. Andhra Pradesh has the highest number of theatres in the South. From 3,500 theaters a couple of years ago, we are now reduced to 2,500. Many theatres had to shut down because the number of Tollywood films and dubbed movies put together weren't enough since there were far too many theaters than there were films . In this scenario, even if a ban on dubbed films is imposed I'm certain that 'secret screenings' will become a reality as people who are stripped off their source of livelihood will take desperate measures," he says.
Plus, the government can't lose out on the taxes that dubbed films bring, Vijender adds. "The state benefits from these taxes. The only care we need to take is to see that dubbed films are not passed off as Telugu films! Also many of the producers of these dubbed films are Telugu people themselves, so what's this whole issue that smacks of regionalism?
Suresh Babu also reveals that the stalemate in the Chamber over the 'ban dubbed films' issue is because exhibitors want the dubbed films to run as it is their livelihood and also of the vendors and other support personnel who work in theatres.
While the issue is yet to reach a resolution, one thing is clear - Tollywood needs to get its success formula right. Vijender Reddy sums up the whole issue saying, "All this bitterness is because in the past two years, Tollywood had been churning out flop after flop. A few good hits and people will forget all about the threat posed by dubbed films."
BOx office
Telugu films
Ala Modalaindi (` 9 cr)
Mirapakai (` 20 cr)
100% Love (` 20 cr)
Seema Tapakai (` 7 cr)
Mr Perfect (` 23 cr)
Dubbed films
Rangam (` 10 cr)
Vaadu Veedu (` 4 cr)
Kanchana (` 8 cr)
Naa Peru Shiva (Hit)
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