HYDERABAD: Even as small-budget film producers continued their relay fast for the fourth day on Monday demanding introduction of percentage system in place of the existing rental system in cinema theatres, exhibitors criticised the move and contended that it was the lease system that was giving them peace of mind. At a press conference held at Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber of Commerce (APFCC) here today, they said: “It’s we, who had requested Suresh Movies to take our theatres on lease for our survival. When exhibitors were in crisis about two years ago, Suresh Productions and Pyramid Saimira helped us. We are at peace of mind with the current system. Why is that only a certain section of producers is demanding abolition of the rental system while producers of hits like Vinayakudu, Blade Babji, Bathukamma and Kotha Bangaru Lokam are not complaining?’’ asked the members of the Exhibitors Association.
“Please do not embarass those who had come to our rescue by taking our theatres on lease,’’ they appealed, adding: ``Let the producers come forward to release their films without any advance. We are ready to screen films on percentage basis.’’ Actor Rajasekhar also raised his voice in support of the producers’ demand against high rentals. “Our film `Evadaithe Nakenti’ was a big hit.
Everybody was expecting that we would be getting profits to the tune of Rs 5 crore. On the contrary, distributors showed us the accounts saying that we wouldn’t get anything due to high rentals of theatres,’’ claimed Rajasekhar and his wife Jeevitha.
“As I was confident that my previous film `Gorintaku’ would do well, I asked for a share in the profit from the film’s producer RB Chowdary on the condition of reducing my remuneration.
According to the agreement, I should have got 20 per cent share, but to the surprise of all, this time the producer too didn’t get any amount which was also attributed to high rentals.
In that way, I lost part of my remuneration as well,’’ explained Rajasekhar.
Jeevitha felt that not just small-budget film producers, even big producers were affected by the high rentals. It should be viewed as a problem affecting the entire producers’ community, she opined.