Small-budget filmmakers staged a major protest at the Hyderabad Film Chamber on Monday, demanding an immediate reduction in digital screening charges and fair access to theatres. The protest was led by RK Goud and the team behind the upcoming film Deeksha, who alleged that rising Virtual Print Fee (VPF) costs and theatre monopolies are pushing independent cinema into a financial crisis.
The demonstration was attended by Deeksha writer-director-producer and Telangana Film Chamber of Commerce Chairman Dr. Prathani Ramakrishna Goud, Telugu Producers’ Council Secretary Prasanna Kumar, producers Gururaj, Lion Sai Venkat and JVR, actors Kiran and Sheraz Mehdi, along with several members of the film fraternity.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Ramakrishna Goud said the protest was aimed at ending theatre monopolies and reducing the heavy VPF charges collected by digital content service providers. He said that when digital projection replaced physical film prints, producers were assured that these charges would eventually be phased out. However, even after more than a decade, filmmakers continue to pay high fees for every theatrical release.
According to him, producers in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are forced to pay between ₹10,000 and ₹15,000 per theatre per week, while neighbouring states reportedly charge only a fraction of that amount. He also pointed out that producers do not receive refunds even if their films are removed from theatres within a few days of release.
Dr. Ramakrishna Goud further claimed that Deeksha has completed its business across all territories but is still struggling to secure theatres in the Nizam region. He alleged that small films are being squeezed between limited theatre availability and mounting digital expenses. He also urged multiplex operators to review ticket and food prices, saying high costs are discouraging audiences from visiting theatres.
Producer Gururaj said Tollywood has always grown by encouraging newcomers and warned that the industry cannot build the next generation of stars if small films are denied opportunities. He added that a film’s success should determine its value, not its budget, and vowed to continue the movement until independent producers receive equal treatment.
Actor Sheraz Mehdi described small films as the backbone of the industry and said they continue to face challenges at every stage of release. He argued that every producer, regardless of budget, deserves equal treatment and questioned why digital service providers continue to collect such high charges.
Producer JVR extended his support to the protest, saying legendary filmmakers like D. Ramanaidu and Dasari Narayana Rao had always encouraged emerging talent. He said the struggle would continue until justice is delivered to small producers.
Actor Kiran, who plays the lead role in Deeksha, said he has spent nearly 25 years in the industry and appealed for fair opportunities for newcomers. He urged the industry not to block small films through limited theatre access and excessive digital charges.
Telugu Producers’ Council Secretary Prasanna Kumar said digital technology was expected to reduce distribution costs, but instead it has become a major financial burden for producers. He called on the government and the Film Chamber to address the issue and suggested that multiplexes introduce affordable ticket pricing models similar to those in Tamil Nadu.
Producer Lion Sai Venkat said many small producers spend lakhs of rupees on digital charges to release their films in hundreds of theatres, only to see them removed from most screens within a day. Despite the early removal, the VPF charges remain non-refundable, causing heavy financial losses. He said the industry must unite to protect small cinema and expressed full support for the ongoing movement.
The protesting filmmakers urged the government, Film Chamber and industry stakeholders to intervene immediately, reduce digital charges and ensure equal theatrical opportunities for small-budget films, warning that their agitation will continue until meaningful reforms are introduced.
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