Telangana CM Revanth Reddy’s Decision Welcomed; Andhra Pradesh CM Urged to Address Ticket Pricing Issue: Kethireddy
*Expressing solidarity with the family of Revathi, who tragically lost her life during a stampede at Sandhya Theater, Telugu Film Producers Council of Andhra Pradesh President Kethireddy Jagadeeshwar Reddy issued a statement highlighting various concerns in the film industry.*
In his statement, Kethireddy extended condolences to Revathi’s family, assuring them of unwavering support from their organization. He added that they have communicated this commitment to the family. Additionally, KIMS Hospitals was approached to check on the health condition of a boy injured during the incident. Kethireddy remarked that following Allu Arjun's release on bail, several individuals from the film fraternity expressed solidarity with him. However, he pointed out that this gesture was limited to only a select few from a particular business group within the industry.
Kethireddy emphasized that the film industry is not represented solely by the four individuals who visited Allu Arjun’s residence. He urged Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to acknowledge that no one from the larger cinema community, who genuinely view films as their lifeblood, had visited Allu Arjun to express solidarity over the incident.
In his statement, Kethireddy also commended CM Revanth Reddy for his announcement that henceforth, no benefit shows or special screenings will be permitted without a government order during his tenure. He noted that this decision has been warmly welcomed by the common audience and industry members alike. Theater owners and exhibitors in Telangana have particularly appreciated the move, as previous governments' ticket pricing policies had led to a decline in theater attendance.
Kethireddy expressed optimism that the CM’s decision would encourage families to return to theaters with joy and affordability. He urged Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu to implement similar measures to preserve the survival of the film industry in the state.
He appealed to the Andhra Pradesh government to establish a committee of experts to design guidelines aimed at promoting the growth of the film industry in the region. This would include ensuring that families can enjoy cinema at reasonable ticket prices and putting an end to arbitrary ticket price hikes. Kethireddy stressed the need for a sustainable pricing model to ensure the film industry thrives in Andhra Pradesh.
