Telangana Cinema Chamber of Commerce (TCCC) at a meeting here on Tuesday has demanded that the manifestos of political parties in Telangana region should reflect the aspirations of the film industry of Telangana.
Telangana culture and language were insulted in several films produced by Seemandhra people till now. “We want to maintain the existence of Telangana culture in the film industry. The manifestos of parties should reflect the aspirations of the Telangana film industry,” TCCC secretary general Syed Rafi said.
He condemned the meeting of chairman and co-chairman of Telangana Congress manifesto committee D Sridhar Babu and Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka with Seemandhra film industry representatives KS Ramarao and Burgupalli Sivarama Krishana recently. Rafi wondered whether the Congress manifesto committee was trying to keep the film industry at the feet of the Seemandhra people even after the creation of separate Telangana.
Whether the Congress leaders were endorsing the demands of Seemandhra film personalities to seek more benefits in Telangana and to keep their supremacy over the film industry, he asked. ‘’It is highly objectionable to discuss the Telangana film industry policy with Seemandhra persons,” he added.
He further said that it was ridiculous that the Telangana film industry was being dictated by the people from Seemandhra region. Their meeting was held to ensure that the dominance of Seemandhra in the industry continued even after the bifurcation and to safeguard their monopoly. It was also strange that they had demanded tax exemption to the theatres already owned or occupied by Seemandhra people, Rafi said.
The manifestos of parties should be drafted only to encourage the artistes, technicians and entrepreneurs from Telangana cinema industry but not to re-establish the dominance of Seemandhra people in T-state, Rafi said. ‘’We do not have any objection if Seemandhra cinema industry getting benefits from residuary Andhra Pradesh,” he added. “Trying to strangle the Telangana cinema industry with the name Telugu would result in severe consequences,” he warned.
Telangana Cinema Producers’ Council president Sana Yadireddy, Cinema Directors’ Association president Allani Sreedhar, Cinema Distributors’ Association president Uday Reddy, Cinema Exhibitors’ Association president Mallikarjuna Goud, and others were present.
Courtesy: NewIndianExpress.Com