Telugu movies ‘Thimmarusu’ and ‘Ishq’ would be the first to launch in theatres after the second wave of COVID-19
After a hiatus of greater than three months, theatres in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are scheduled to reopen on July 30, with the screening of Telugu movies Thimmarusu and Ishq. Theatres in Telangana have been permitted to have 100% occupancy, whereas Andhra Pradesh will permit 50% occupancy with alternate seating.
Mahesh Koneru, who produced the authorized thriller Thimmarusu directed by Sharan Koppisetty, says the crew waited for theatres to reopen and didn’t contemplate a digital launch. The Satya Dev and Priyanka Jawalkar starrer is a remake of the 2019 Kannada movie Birbal: “Our film was ready for release in May and we waited till the second wave of COVID-19 subsided and the situation was conducive for theatres to reopen,” says Koneru.
If not for the extreme second wave, summer season would have witnessed star-studded releases, together with the Chiranjeevi-starrer Acharya.
Ishq, initially scheduled to launch on April 23, stars Teja Sajja and Priya Prakash Varrier and is directed by S S Raju. Says N V Prasad, one of many movie’s producers, “AP has nighttime restrictions and theatres will have to end the last show before 10 p.m. However, we are happy to take our film to the theatres; I believe that digital platforms cannot match the theatrical viewing experience.”
Another movie titled Narasimhapuram can be anticipated to launch on July 30.
Teja Sajja and Priya Prakash Varrier in ‘Ishq’
Ticket pricing has been a bone of rivalry between the movie business and the Andhra Pradesh authorities. The State authorities had issued a notification directing theatre managements to stick to the utmost ceiling charges, in accordance with the ticket costs fastened by the federal government.
Film exhibitors have been stating that in rural areas, referred to in movie commerce parlance as C-centres, ticket costs are slightly low, between ₹10 and ₹50, relying on the placement and facilities supplied. Exhibitors argue that they wouldn’t have the ability to meet recurring upkeep and sanitation prices with such low ticket costs.
“Many theatres even in rural areas are equipped with good technology. A lot of investment has gone into these theatres. If a ticket is priced at, say, ₹30, the management will find it difficult to recover expenses. Film industry representatives are hopeful to meet Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and request for ticket pricing that will also benefit theatres,” says Prasad.
Though these points want ironing out, small and medium price range movies are prone to launch in theatres within the first half of August.
The Pawan Kalyan starrer Vakeel Saab directed by Sriram Venu was the final important theatrical launch earlier than cinema halls downed their shutters because the second wave of COVID-19 intensified.
Film business insiders state that greater than 20 Telugu movies have accomplished censor certification formalities and are ready to launch in late August and September. S S Rajamouli’s bold RRR starring Ram Charan and NTR is anticipated to launch on October 13.
The Telugu movie business is hoping that the third wave of COVID-19 doesn’t play spoil sport to their enterprise plans.
