PNS|Vijayawada
Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan has strongly criticised senior figures in the Telugu film industry for showing no regard towards the State government, despite the industry being granted official status.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Pawan Kalyan expressed his dissatisfaction over the film industry’s failure to show even basic courtesy towards the government.
“It has been nearly a year since the NDA coalition formed the government in Andhra Pradesh. Yet, leaders of the Telugu film fraternity have not once met Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to express their gratitude for according industry status to cinema,” he remarked.
The actor-turned-politician’s sharp remarks come at a time when cinema exhibitors and distributors have announced plans to shut all theatres in AP from June 1. Notably, Pawan Kalyan’s film Hari Hara Veeramallu is slated for release on June 12, though the exhibitors have since clarified that theatres will remain open.
Pawan recalled how, during the YSRCP regime, senior film personalities were humiliated and obstacles were deliberately created for films featuring actors they disliked. He stressed that unity among industry leaders such as Dil Raju, Allu Aravind, D. Suresh Babu, Y. Supriya, China Babu, C. Aswanidutt, and Naveen Yerneni could help strengthen and develop the Telugu film industry.
He also made it clear that going forward, he would not entertain individual representations from film personalities. A new comprehensive policy for the film industry is also on the anvil, he added.
Pawan Kalyan further observed that most cinema theatres are now being operated by leaseholders rather than owners. He has directed cinematography officials to submit a detailed report on multiplexes functioning across the State.
