Telugu filmmakers await sops from govt

Hyderabad: Even two years after the formation of the new State of Telangana, filmmakers are still looking forward to government’s support to strengthen the film industry on which livelihood of lakhs of workers depends.

• Filmmakers are confident of the Chief Minister breathing new life into industry
• They are gung-ho over Telangana State government having a tie-up with Dream Works to build a world-class film city and thus making Hyderabad ‘film capital’ of India
• Film workers, however, demand that the government end the hegemony of workers from Andhra Pradesh in the industry

According to sources, Telangana filmmakers are expecting the government to announce subsidies for “Telangana cinema.” Cine workers are fighting against Andhra counterparts to secure their legitimate share in filmmaking.

Telugu filmmakers are looking for better shooting facilities, lower rents for locations belonging to the government, reduction in entertainment tax and much more. “We are hopeful of a change, once Chief Minister begins to focus on film industry.

His priority for the last two years has been irrigation, power and tackling drought, so we are expecting a concrete film policy by end of this year,” said Murali Mohan, general secretary, Telangana Film Chamber of Commerce, who is member of two panels, to frame guidelines for awards and subsidies.

“It is true that we are framing guidelines to identify the best talent to bag awards and also discussing various kinds of subsidies to be given to promote good cinema and fixing of entertainment tax is also on the cards ” he added.

However, producer-director Allani Sridhar hailed the decision of TRS government to have a tie up with renowned Dream Works to make Hyderabad the film capital of India.

“KCR is a visionary of sorts and intends to make Hyderabad the most-favoured shooting destination and film city is one big leap forward in that direction. Formation of Telangana Film Development Corporation will resolve many issues” he said and added “KCR garu promised to protect the distinct identity of Telangana cinema as well as Telugu cinema, so we are feeling safe under his stewardship” he added.

But, the 2,000 cine workers are not the happy because it has become a day-to-day struggle for them to get work. Andhra-born workers guild is threatening filmmakers. “We dreamt of better opportunities in the new State of Telangana, but in film industry, we have to fight against Andhra-dominated workers body every other day.

Actually, it has become a day-to-day fight for survival to earn a two square meal a day. KCR garu should end this hegemony to save our self-respect and right to work in our homeland,” remarked Laxman, general secretary of the Make-Up Artistes Union.

By BVS Prakash