Don't tarnish Producer Council's image

Says renowned film personality Thammareddy Bharadwaj talking about the recent advertising fiasco involving certain Telugu cinema producers

The buzz surrounding the Telugu film industry with regards to film advertising and how certain producers wish to monopolise it by involving only select media houses in the process is not dying down. While news channels and newspapers have been expressing their unhappiness for some time, renowned Telugu cinema producer Thammareddy Bharadwaj voiced his discontent about the same at a presser he organised on Monday in Hyderabad.

“It has come to our notice that a few producers are tarnishing the name of the Producers’ Council by involving in activities that aren’t in the body’s best interest,” he said. He was talking in relation to the advertising fiasco. Producers – also the members of the council, reportedly, had become involved in an agreement where only select media houses would be given advertisements.

Any producer generally approaches the council before advertising to get some discounted rates. And the group of producers is pitching in for some news channels. Saying that they have been warned, Thammareddy said, “Everybody is from the industry and we are concerned. We have told them and they have obviously denied but we have proof. Telling them on phone hasn't been effective and that’s the reason I took the initiative of interacting with the press.

“I am appalled that they are using the name of the Council to threaten and create fear amongst others saying they will lose out on benefits. This isn’t the right thing,” he said. Adding that it is unfair to order producers to release advertisements to certain channels only, the producer averred, “The name of the Council shouldn't be stained. The kind of media you want to advertise with is your choice. But don’t do it while in the Producers’ Council.”