Producers seek land for mini theatres

HYDERABAD: With some producers having a vice-like grip over theatres in the state, an organisation comprising several producers has come up with a proposal. The Telugu Chalanachitra Parirakshana Samithi, as it is called, has made a representation to the state government to allocate land for the construction of mini theatres at different places in the state.
The Samithi has sought a minimum of 500 sq yards at each place so that a theatre with shopping facilities can be constructed there. "We do not want land at a concessional rate. We require land at some prime locations and that too on lease," said the chairman of the Samithi, Chadalavada Srinivasa Rao.
The mini theatres will have a seating capacity of 250 to 500. "A mini theatre can be constructed with a cost of Rs 25 lakh. Many people are showing interest to construct such theatres provided there is land available at commercial centres," Srinivasa Rao said.
The Telugu Chalanachitra Parirakshana Samithi, it may be mentioned, was formed to save the Telugu film industry by taking up issues and problems being faced by it. Of late, the complaint of many producers is that they are not able to get theatres to screen their movies. This is because the theatres are mainly in the grip of a few individuals and it is entirely their discretion to rent out theatres to whoever they wish to. Moreover, the rents that are collected for screening films are also huge.
If big-budget films take up a large chunk of theatres, another issue that has been bugging producers is dubbed films. The dubbed films, mostly Tamil, are also being released in large number of theaters. "It is indeed a big problem. But that is how theatres are being run in the state. However, mini theatres will cater to straight Telugu films," Srinivasa Rao said. As many as 100 towns and cities have been identified for the construction of mini theatres. Ideally, it wants a piece of land for lease in every place where there is a population of 30,000 people.