To shift, or not to shift, that is the question. The Telugu film industry, popularly known as Tollywood, which shifted from Madras and settled comfortably in Hyderabad a few decades ago, is now staring at another possible move to Visakhapatnam.
After convincing producers and directors to shoot several movies in erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh, actor and producer Akkineni Nageswara Rao founded Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad in the 1970s. Back then, initially most of the popular Telugu actors, producers and directors were hesitant to shift base to Hyderabad. The industry is now facing a similar dilemma over whether to continue in the established tinsel town of Hyderabad in Telangana or make a fresh start in A.P., which promises better business and which is where many actors and producers come from.
The discussions have grown louder following a recent meeting of the industry heads with A.P. Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. When the A.P. government wanted to make movie tickets more affordable ahead of the release of big-budget movies such as Acharya, Bheemla Nayak, Radhe Shyam, and Sarkar Vaari Paata, the cine industry delegation, represented by Chiranjeevi, Prabhas, Mahesh Babu and directors S.S. Rajamouli and Koratala Siva, met Mr. Reddy for an amicable solution. It was during that meeting that Mr. Reddy offered the industry several sops to shift to Visakhapatnam. Mr. Reddy suggested that at least 20% of Telugu films be made in A.P., to give a fillip to the market there. He went a step ahead and asked the industry heads to relocate to Visakhapatnam, which is pitched to be the administrative capital city of A.P. His government, he said, would provide land for studios and create residential townships. He said A.P. has more theatres compared to Telangana and contributes over 60% of the revenue to the film industry. Another Jubilee Hills will be created in Visakhapatnam, he promised. Mr. Chiranjeevi and Mr. Mahesh Babu responded positively to the proposal.
