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Some stars shine while producers fade away
But a section of those investing money into film production have literally gone into hiding to escape from pestering moneylenders
* Some superstars have fattened their bank balances
* But a section of those investing money into film production have literally gone into hiding to escape from pestering moneylenders
Hyderabad: Superstars ranging from Mahesh Babu to Prabhas, NTR jr and Ram Charan and actresses like Kaajal to Tammanah, Shruti Hassan and Rakul Preet Singh have fattened their bank balances. Along with the superstars, a section of directors too have reaped a rich harvest. But many a producers have been pushed into financial crisis as a result of flops at the box office of 80-and-odd films.
“It’s quite an unusual situation and it is bound to push industry to the brink of disaster, if it goes unchecked” warned producer C N Rao.
“Despite flops, the stars are charging anywhere between Rs 12 to Rs 18 crore per film, while actresses are pocketing between Rs 1 crore and Rs 2 crore and top-notch directors are charging Rs 5 to Rs 12 crore. While producers are facing crisis, the stars who acted in the films and the directors are building villas and buying swanky cars. What a pitiable situation,” lamented producer Sai Venkat.
While top producer, who made big films, was forced to sell off his palatial house and another producer is making rounds, fighting “cheating cases.” Yet another top producer has vanished into thin air to be as far away as possible from the pestering financiers. The list is endless.
“These producers have literally gone into hiding to escape from financiers since they lost anywhere between Rs 150 crore in 2015. The situation will further worsen if producers fail to stand up and assert their rights.
A few producers have become just “Mr Moneybags” and do not even know the script of the films they are producing as they leave it to stars and directors, and pathetically wait outside caravans of stars” lamented producer Nattikumar, executive member of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce. “Even some new and inexperienced producers like NRI’s, neo-rich realty barons have marred the market and sent T-town budgets into a tailspin” he added.
Despite Telugu Film Producers Council initiating various cost-cutting measures for producers, few have got it right. “It is true that council has drafted measures to cut costs to help producers, but it is good only on paper since most of the producers care a damn about it and go on a spending spree, resulting in many so-called top producers going bankrupt’ rued Prasanna Kumar, general secretary, Telugu Film Producers Council.
BVS Prakash
