Single-screen cinemas of Telangana have locked horns with producers. They are demanding that they be treated like multiplexes when it comes to sharing revenues. It is common knowledge that agreements between producers and multiplexes are based on percentage sharing while those between producers and single-screen cinemas are based on rental system. Another demand of the single-screen cinemas is that big films must not be allowed to stream on OTT platforms for at least six weeks from the date of their premiere theatrical release. For small films, the exclusive theatrical window should be of four weeks at least.
A meeting was held yesterday (3rd February) at D. Rama Naidu Studios in Hyderabad to discuss these issues. Among those who attended the meeting were Suresh Babu Daggubati, Asian Cinemas’ Sunil, D.V.V. Danayya, Abhishek Nama, Mythri Ravi, Naveen and B.V.S.N. Prasad. Several films are slated for release in the month of March. However, single-screen cinemas have made it clear that they will not screen the new films till a settlement on the aforementioned issues is arrived at. In fact, single-screen cinemas have threatened to down shutters from 1st March if their demands are not met.