Why is the Telugu film industry overjoyed by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's electoral defeat?
The Telugu film industry is celebrating YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's defeat and Pawan Kalyan's victory. The film industry now has an ally in the administration who could work for its benefit.
YS Jagan Mohan Reddy
The Telugu film industry is celebrating the electoral defeat of the Andhra Pradesh government with unusually high enthusiasm. Members of the fraternity openly express a sense of relief and joy following the stunning electoral upset of the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government.
This is not typical for the Telugu film industry. With the transitory nature of power and oscillating political equations, the majority of filmmakers and actors usually maintain a healthy distance from electoral politics. In return, politicians, both in power and in opposition, try to keep a cordial relationship with members of the film industry.
However, Jagan's relationship with the Telugu film industry was marked by conflicts. During his tenure, he introduced a series of regulations concerning the box office business in Andhra Pradesh. These policies were perceived as punitive and serving a personal agenda.
The whole industry was up in arms against Jagan's efforts to cap movie ticket prices across theatres in Andhra Pradesh. This sent shockwaves through the film industry, which was also reeling from the heavy losses caused by the Covid-induced lockdown.
For example, movies like Allu Arjun's Pushpa: The Rise struggled to break even in Andhra Pradesh despite running to packed houses across the state for weeks. The film was a huge commercial hit across the country, including Telangana. However, it fell short of making profits for stakeholders due to the low ticket prices.
The policy was deemed so detrimental to the business of cinema that theatre owners in Andhra Pradesh approached the Andhra High Court against the Jagan government. Although the court suspended the order on reducing ticket prices in 2021, the Jagan government continued to regulate pricing.
In 2022, Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi led a delegation of leading filmmakers and stars like SS Rajamouli, Prabhas, and Mahesh Babu to persuade the government to relax its efforts to heavily regulate movie ticket prices and benefit shows. At the time, these efforts were considered successful, with Chiranjeevi and his colleagues thanking Jagan.
Jagan claimed that he devised these policies to protect the interests of small movies and make entertainment accessible to everyone, which he said would also contribute to the growth of the Telugu film industry. The government provided some relaxation, rewarding Chiranjeevi's efforts with a significant victory.
However, it seems the benefits escaped movies starring Pawan Kalyan, who played a significant role in handing a massive defeat to the Jagan government.
It's noteworthy that fans of Telugu superstar Prabhas were worried about Kalki 2898 AD facing similar issues had Jagan retained power. After the TDP-led alliance swept the assembly elections, social media was flooded with memes and messages from fans expressing relief.
Similarly, the who's who of the Telugu film industry are also celebrating Jagan's defeat and Pawan's victory. The film industry now has an ally in the administration who could work for its benefit.
Updated: June 04, 2024 07:53 PM IST
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