Telugu film industry on brink? Theatre bandh from June 1 threatens Mani Ratnam-Kamal Haasan's ‘Thug Life', more

Mint

19-05-2025

The Telugu film industry's future hangs in the balance as theatres across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana edge closer to a potential shutdown starting June 1. If exhibitors and producers fail to find common ground, single-screen cinemas may go dark—putting summer blockbusters and the movie-going experience at risk.
According to a report by the Cinema Express, nearly 60 exhibitors met with prominent Telugu film producers, including Dil Raju and Suresh Babu, in Hyderabad recently, to address long-standing grievances about the current rental-based revenue system.
The exhibitors are pushing for a shift to a percentage-based model, arguing it would offer a fairer share of box office earnings.
During the meeting in Hyderabad, exhibitors pressed for a bandh in the Telugu states from June 1 till the issue is sorted. The meeting also spotlighted growing unease over films landing on OTT platforms too soon after theatrical release, as per Cinema Express's report.
The road to resolution, however presents a murky scenario. Industry bigwigs and producers were notably absent from the meeting, hinting at internal divides within the industry.
If no consensus is reached, the bandh could disrupt major film releases scheduled for early summer.
From Mani Ratnam directorial to Jyothi Krishna's movies starring Pawan Kalyan, Bobby Deol — the release of multiple movies would be affected if the bandh begins from June 1.
Mani Ratnam's much-anticipated film Thug Life, starring Kamal Haasan, Silambarasan TR, and Trisha Krishnan, is set to hit theatres on June 5. The movie is slated to release in both its original Tamil, and Telugu dubbed versions.
Following closely on Thug Life's heels is Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1, featuring Pawan Kalyan, Bobby Deol, and Nidhhi Agerwal. Directed by Krish and written by Jyothi Krishna, the historical action epic is now scheduled for release on June 12, after being postponed from its original May 30 date, as per multiple reports.
If the bandh is to be stretched, Sekhar Kammula's Dhanush, Nagarjuna, Rashmika Mandanna, and Jim Sarbh-starrer Kuberaa, which is set to hit the screens on June 20, might also be affected.
Theatres in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have been navigating through turbulent times since 2024, with audience numbers dipping considerably, leaving owners in losses.
'If producers agree to a fair revenue sharing mode, then single screens can survive. Otherwise, single screens will become a thing of the past and all of them will shut down permanently sooner than later,' M Vijendar Reddy, president of exhibitors association, had told during a 2024 press conference in Hyderabad, mentions a report by TOI.
Reddy had further mentioned that since 2005, around 2,000 single theatres had shut shops due to the lopsided revenue sharing model in which theatre owners suffered heavy losses.