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Filmmakers need to introspect
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It's about time for the industry to take concrete steps and overcome crises
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Photo: K.R. Deepak
FILMS ARE a hugely important part of our culture. Going to the cinema continues to be our most popular pastime. Whilst the success of blockbusters such as Nuvvasthanante Nenodhantana will always grab the headlines, the increase in box office collections of small and medium budget films is extremely discouraging and a testament to the rising cost of film making in our industry despite the . huge depth of talent. A study shows that there is an undisputed demand for Telugu films, not only from cinemagoers but from television viewers as well. Whilst there have been impressive improvements in the number of advertisements, trailers, interviews and other promotional shows aired on some TV channels, there needs to be an equally significant improvement in the amount of money invested in film production.
Rising overhead costs
As revealed in January 2005, film production levels dropped substantially. While the high remuneration of the film stars and directors have been cited as one of the reasons; mammoth sets, hiring of hundreds of junior artistes , the expenditures involved in shooting abroad etc; are said to be the other reasons. For some films, you have to look behind the scenes, to see where the money has gone. Film stars who once worked on three films at a time, are now sitting idle.
Studios that used to be booked for months in advance for shootings can be hired at any time. In January, apart from M.S. Raju's film, Balu...abcdefg and Sankranti there hasn't been one single film worth talking about. For Evari gola vadidhe, money has just about been recovered; any amount of hype is not helping Radhagopalm.
So all we have to do is hope that at least the magic works for the three three holi-eve released big films -- Krishna Vamsi's Chakram, Tarun and Arthi Agarwal starrer Sogaadu and Venu's Sada mee seva lo to revive the sagging spirits of the industry.
Hackneyed themes
Monies come from the box office, sale of music and television rights, and these revenue streams are linked to the success of a film. Filmmakers and scriptwriters should gauge the pulse of the audience instead of producing rehashed versions of .earlier films.
Unfortunately, filmmakers are not investing their time and energy on better scripts. A solution for video piracy remains a mirage. It is strange, that though Chennai had been able to control it to an extent, we are not able to fight it in our State.
Technology can be effectively used to combat it. For instance, digital projection is one such area that can help reduce piracy. Cable TV operators, CD and video parlour owners will continue to show pirated movies.
Any number of meetings in the producers' council, or representations to the politicians and PR exercises will not help. The point is, try and keep pace with technology to beat them.
Y. SUNITA CHOWDHARY
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