Telugu Film Industry’s meeting with CM Revanth Reddy: Key highlights

CM Revanth Reddy assured the industry of full government support.

Hyderabad: In a recent meeting, held on Thursday, with the Chief Minister of Telangana, Revanth Reddy, various top figures from the Telugu film industry discussed important issues affecting the sector. Producers, directors and actors including Suresh Babu, K.L. Narayana, Damodhar, Allu Aravind, B.V.S.N. Prasad, Trivikram Srinivas, Vamsi Paidipalli, V. Vijayendra Prasad, Nagarjuna, Varun Tej, Venkatesh and Ram Pothineni among others were present at the meeting.

CM Revanth Reddy assured the industry of full government support. He also announced that benefit shows would no longer be allowed. He stressed that the government remains committed to the promises made in the Assembly and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to Tollywood.

Director Raghavendra Rao, stated that all Chief Ministers have supported the film industry and the current government is also doing the same. He welcomed the appointment of Dil Raju as the Chairman of the Film Development Corporation (FDC) and mentioned that Telangana has amazing tourist spots. He also mentioned about the Children’s Film Festival which was held in Hyderabad under N. Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership and proposed the idea of hosting the International Film Festival in Hyderabad.

Nagarjuna raised the issue of infrastructure, emphasising that a universal-level studio setup is essential. He also stated that with the government’s capital incentives, the industry could reach to a global level, and his ultimate goal is to make Hyderabad the World Cinema Capital. Similarly, Shyam Prasad Reddy advised the industry to focus on larger goals and avoid petty issues.

The meeting also addressed serious concerns. CM Revanth reaffirmed that law and order will not be compromised, especially in relation to incidents involving bouncers at film events. He also mentioned that celebrities must take responsibility for controlling their fans.

Murali Mohan, an industry veteran, commented on the Sandhya Theatre incident, which deeply saddened the film industry. The CM also expressed concern over the tragic loss of a woman, Revathi’s life in the incident and assured the industry that the government was taking the matter seriously.

On the topic of promoting the film industry, Murali Mohan shared that competition in film releases makes promotion crucial. He mentioned that the industry is expanding its promotion worldwide due to global film releases.

Film producers, Shyam Prasad Reddy emphasised the need for Hyderabad to rise to the next level, while Suresh Babu highlighted the importance of the government’s support in moving the industry from Chennai to Hyderabad. He also expressed that Hyderabad should be the base for global agencies like Netflix and Amazon. Director Trivikram added that the move was made possible by leaders like Marri Channa Reddy and Akkineni.

The CM called for the film industry to take on social responsibilities, such as contributing to drug campaigns and women safety campaigns. He also encouraged the promotion of temples and eco-tourism in Telangana and called for more cooperation in terms of investments.

Suresh Babu, expressing trust in the government, reiterated that making Hyderabad an international film destination is a shared dream for the industry. He emphasised that with government support, this vision can become a reality.

In conclusion, CM Revanth Reddy reassured the film industry that the government would continue to stand by Tollywood, ensuring that the industry flourishes and grows both locally and globally.