TS filmmakers seek split of film corporation, threaten stir

Hyderabad: After lawyers and APSTC unions, now it’s the turn of 700-odd Telangana filmmakers to go on agitation to seek proper bifurcation of Tollywood and urge Chief Minister K Chandrasekar Rao to bifurcate Tollywood by initiating the process to set up Telangana Film Development Corporation since it comes under 10th schedule of AP state reorganization act and to be done by May 2015, by splitting existing Andhra Film and TV Development Corporation and give proper and legitimate representation to Telangana-born filmmakers.

Even though TRS MP Kavitha, TRS Minister Jogi Ramanna and Telangana Council chairman Swamy Goud and Cinematography Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav have assured to ‘bifurcate’ Telugu film industry but Telangana filmmakers are wary about the game-plan of Andhra-born filmmakers. “We will go on severe agitation and give a representation to the government.

To regain our position and distinct identity since our artistes, techinicians, producers and writers have been deprived of legitimate opportunities for the last 60 years and how long we should tolerate the hegemony of outsiders. We hope Chief Minister would take a appropriate decision and protect the interest of Telangana film fraternity” says Sana Yadi Reddy, filmmaker and general secretary of newly-formed Telangana Movie Chamber of Commerce.

“Unlike other trade bodies, we would be only enrolling Telangana-born filmmakers to weed out outsiders to make it perfect platform to seek subsidies, infrastructure and sops to revive Telangana cinema to its past glory” he adds The apprehension of 700-odd Telangana filmmaker seems legitimate, since the existing Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber of Commerce (dominated by Andhra-born producers, directors and studio and theatre owners) has suddenly renamed itself as “Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce’ it is last general body meeting held in Vijayawada and now set to ratify it in its second meeting on April 26th and has sent notices to 1000-odd members, to stay relevant even in post-bifurcation scenario.

“Why sudden love for Telugu language and its nothing but cheap gimmick and we have rejected the proposal outright since we are capable of managing our issues” says Mr. Vijayendar Reddy, president of existing Telangana Film Chamber of Commerce, who ridicules the irony of holding a meeting in Vijayawada instead of Hyderabad. “We strongly protested to the dominance of Andhra-born leaders last time in a meeting n Hyderabad, so they held the subsequent meeting in Vijayawada and adopted the resolution to change the name of the apex body but it has no relevance for us” he points out.

If you observe, Telugu cinema has just a handful of filmmakers hailing from Telangana, whereas rest of the fraternity is dominated by Andhra-born filmmakers for the last 60 years. “They have complete control over the infrastructure of Telugu cinema from studios to theatres, that shackle has to be broken, to give freedom to Telangana cinema to grow and flourish” quips filmmaker Allani Sridhar. On the comment, that ‘meerantha okate” by few officials has hurt the feelings of filmmakers.

“That quite unfortunate attitude of few officials. So its high time, Chief Minister takes a call and bifurcate Telugu cinema and give prominence to genuine Telangana filmmakers, without being influenced by sweet talk of few Andhra-born trade leaders. We hope that new state, would revive our livelihood and regain the self=respect of new-generation Telangana filmmakers” rues writer=director Prem Raj.