At the trailer launch of Chauryapatham, director Trinadha Rao Nakkina expressed serious concern over the current state of Telugu theatres.
He said that audiences are no longer coming to theatres like they used to. Second shows are frequently getting cancelled. He has seen it happen himself.
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Many blame the ongoing IPL season. But the real problems go much deeper.
One major issue is the rise of 4-week OTT deals. These early digital releases are keeping people away from theatres. As a result, even weekend shows are struggling to cover basic operational costs.
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Single screens are being hit the hardest. Many have shut down permanently. Some are even being converted into godowns or real estate ventures.
But the damage isn’t just from OTT. The real problem lies within the industry. Producers are chasing short-term profits by hiking ticket prices.
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Watching a movie in theatres has become too expensive for many. With cheaper entertainment options available at home, audiences have lost the habit of going to cinemas.
Telugu cinema may be going global. But back in AP and Telangana, theatres are in serious trouble. There needs to be unity among distributors and exhibitors. Only then can they fix OTT timelines, poor distribution terms, and random ticket pricing.
If even mid-range mediocre films like Mad Square and Robinhood are being priced like star-studded blockbusters, it’s a clear sign of how badly things are going.
This week’s releases Odela 2 and Arjun S/O Vyjayanthi offer some hope. But the big test is on May 1. Can Nani’s Hit 3 finally bring the audiences back?
