Producer Shirish Reddy Questions Profit-Sharing for Single Screen Theatres

The debate over single screen theatre survival in Telugu states has taken a new turn after producer Shirish Reddy raised pointed questions about the industry's profit-sharing mechanisms during a Telangana exhibitors' press meet in Hyderabad.

Sirish Reddy's comments have struck a nerve across the exhibition sector. His core argument is straightforward yet provocative: if Telugu cinema has evolved into a pan-India phenomenon with high-budget films commanding nationwide attention, why shouldn't Telugu states adopt the percentage-sharing model that's already working in Karnataka and Maharashtra?

"Telugu cinema is no longer just regional cinema, it's gone pan-India. High budget movies now mean pan-India movies," Shirish observed. His frustration is palpable when he points to the irony: "Our films, our heroes, our directors, but what's the condition of our theatres? The entire country enjoyed Pushpa, but what did we gain from it?"

The producer's comments highlight a fundamental imbalance in the current system. While multiplexes have already moved to percentage-based revenue sharing and are reaping the benefits, single screens remain stuck with the traditional rental model that's proving increasingly unsustainable.

Exhibitors are echoing similar concerns about the changing theatrical landscape. The days when films would run for weeks are long gone: even big-budget releases now struggle to sustain beyond two to three weeks. Only rare successes like F2 manage extended runs in today's market.

Several factors are compounding the pressure on single screens: wider simultaneous releases, the growing influence of OTT platforms, and the industry's obsession with first-week collections. This perfect storm is making the old rental system feel like a relic from a different era.

What makes Shirish's intervention particularly significant is his positioning as someone with skin in the game. As a producer, he understands both sides of the equation: the need for viable exhibition infrastructure and the commercial realities of film distribution.

The industry now faces a critical question: can Telugu cinema maintain its pan-India ambitions while allowing its traditional exhibition base to wither away? The answer may determine whether single screens become casualties of Telugu cinema's national success story or partners in its continued growth.