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Kurnool, now a hub for pirated DVDs
Kurnool is emerging the hub for pirated DVDs. In no time new film DVDs are available in the shops. Pirated DVDs of recent releases like Katama Rayudu, Guru, Rog… and other new films are available in Kurnool market. Neither the officials nor the representatives of film chamber are taking steps to stop the piracy.
Kurnool: Kurnool is emerging the hub for pirated DVDs. In no time new film DVDs are available in the shops. Pirated DVDs of recent releases like Katama Rayudu, Guru, Rog… and other new films are available in Kurnool market. Neither the officials nor the representatives of film chamber are taking steps to stop the piracy.
Highlights:
- Despite raids every alternate day, pirated DVDs are found being sold in public places in Kurnool, Adoni, Nandyal, Yemmiganoor, Atmakur and Dhone towns.
- There are rumours that the trade is going on unchecked as the ‘raids’ being conducted are just for namesake.
Rampant video piracy in the district is not only filing the coffers of the traders, but stuffing the pockets of officials. Collusion of officials with the traders is helping the illegal trade flourish so much so that pirated DVDs of movies that hit the theatres just a day before are available in the open market.
Despite raids every alternate day, pirated DVDs are found being sold in public places in Kurnool, Adoni, Nandyal, Yemmiganoor, Atmakur and Dhone towns. There are rumours that the trade is going on unchecked as the ‘raids’ being conducted are just for namesake.
According to sources, a whole sale dealer in the district headquarters is distributing the pirated DVDs to nearly 3,000 retailers in the district. Each pirated DVD is sold for anything between Rs. 30 to Rs. 45. The distributor was known to be getting the DVDs from Chennai, Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Guntur and also through net like e-mail. It is estimated that a business of Rs. 3 lakh is taking place every day which is amounting to more than Rs. 10 crores per year.
Several video shop owners say that the rampant business is mainly due to corrupt officials and lack of raids and those raid the shops would leave with no action after accepting bribes. They said that a team comprising police personnel, representatives of box purchasers, distributors, film chambers representatives are involved during the regular raids.
However, on getting information before hand about the raids, the shop owners used to take precautions. There are allegations that if anyone was caught red handed they used to let them free by bribing the officials. Interestingly, officials involved in the raiding the DVD shops earn more than anyone else, according to a statement of some traders.
A retired police officer who was appointed by the film chamber to check piracy was learnt to have set up a DVD shop and was known to be dealing in pirated DVDs. On learning about his illegal trade the film chamber authorities have removed him three years ago. But it was learnt that he is still continuing to collect money from the shop owners stating that he is involved in checking piracy.
