The Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam film industries will reportedly go on strike from March 1 to protest against the price levied by digital service providers (who stream movies to theaters) and the cost of movie tickets.
The decision was taken on Tuesday after a meeting was held by the representatives of the four film industries in Hyderabad. While the cinema theatres will be operational, there will be no new releases from March 1.
BREAKING : Tamil Film Producers council not to release any new movies from March 1st.. To protest against high fees charged by Digital Service Providers like Qube.. pic.twitter.com/ssergHFDNj
— Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) February 6, 2018
The treasurer of TFPC, SR Prabhu had earlier told The Times of India, “There will be a joint meeting between the members of four states in Hyderabad. We will get clarity on the issue after that.” He added, “The Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce has already called for a theatre shut down from March 1 to express their displeasure with the exorbitant rate that digital service providers are charging to help stream films in the theatres.”
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Muthyala Ramdoss, General Secretary of TFCC had told Deccan Chronicle that distributors are paying the charges for digital projection (about Rs 20,000 per week) of the film, which in actuality should be borne either by the exhibitor or DSPs because the latter is installing the equipment in the premises of the former.
If the the parties concerned fail to reach an amicable solution, the strike will affect movies which are set to release in March, including Vishal’s Irumbu Thirai and Jiiva-starer Kee.
Telugu film Rangasthalam, starring Ram Charan and Samantha Akkineni, is slated for March 30 release and is likely to get affected as well.