📌 Key Points
- Telangana Exhibitors Association insists on percentage-sharing for film releases, rejecting rental models.
- A stalemate between exhibitors and producers has emerged just days before Peddi’s June 4 release.
- Exhibitors oppose ticket price hikes and a proposed system to grade single-screen theatres.
- Previous agreements for Peddi’s Andhra Pradesh release included specific terms for ticket price enhancements.
A significant rift between Telangana exhibitors and producers over revenue sharing and ticket prices threatens the upcoming release of Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor’s film, Peddi. The Exhibitors Association is firm on percentage-sharing, creating a major industry stalemate just days before the movie’s premiere.
Exhibitors Firm on Percentage-Sharing Model
The Telangana Exhibitors Association remains firm on allowing films to release only on a percentage-sharing basis, rather than on a rental basis, for Peddi.
Days before the release of Buchi Babu Sana’s Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor-starrer Peddi on June 4, terms between the exhibitors and producers in Telangana seem to reach a stalemate. Even as the Telangana Exhibitors Association stays firm on percentage-sharing for all future releases, the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce reminds them otherwise. Explaining how and if this rift will affect Peddi.
“We are against a ticket price hike in Telangana. We have already submitted a letter to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce and the Exhibitors Association, requesting that ticket prices should not be increased,” said Vijayender. Sridhar, secretary of the Telangana Film Chamber of Commerce, claimed that the issue was first discussed during the release of Pawan Kalyan ’s Hari Hara Veera Mallu last year. “If we continue to delay, many single-screen theatres may shut down,” he said, stating that the exhibitors are firm on releasing films only under the new model.
Ticket Price Hike: A Major Point of Contention
Apart from announcing to the press that the revenue-sharing model is in effect from Saturday and that they oppose ticket hikes, the exhibitors also object to the proposed system to grade single screens. Sridhar also mentioned that even when a film becomes a hit, it runs in theatres for only about a week.
Reiterating that it was agreed to release Peddi without hindrance with terms for ticket hikes, he wrote, “For Andhra Pradesh – If there is any enhancement of the tickets for the movie “PEDDI”, 7.5% (seven and half percent) would be paid. For Premier Shows – per show, the payment will be made as detailed below: Rs.25,000/- for “A” Center, Rs.15,000/- for “B” Center and Rs.5,000/- for “C” Center.”
Peddi’s Release Amidst Industry Stalemate
He also added, “For Telangana, the above will be applicable in case ticket price is hiked. If there is no ticket hike, they will discuss, as usual, with the distributors and settle mutually. The Producers, Distributors and Exhibitors agreed for implementation of percentage system. The new percentage system will be decided before the next big release or the end of June, 2026, upon all the conditions submitted by Producers to be discussed and agreed with time lines.”
Peddi is a sports drama starring Ram and Janhvi in lead roles. It also stars Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu and Divyenndu.
The ongoing dispute between Telangana’s exhibitors and producers casts a shadow over Peddi’s release. Resolution is crucial to prevent further delays and ensure the smooth functioning of the regional film industry, impacting future releases beyond just this anticipated film.
