Single Screen Exhibitors Demand Percentage System: 'Heroes Have Rights, Why Don't We?'

The survival crisis facing single screen theaters in Telangana has erupted into a full-blown industry debate, with exhibitors staging a crucial meeting in Hyderabad demanding the implementation of percentage sharing instead of the current rental system.

The exhibitors' frustration reached a boiling point during their 'Save Single Screens' press meet, where they laid bare the harsh realities of running theaters in the post-COVID landscape. The numbers tell a grim story: audience habits have fundamentally shifted, films aren't sustaining long theatrical runs, yet exhibitors are still saddled with crushing rental costs and maintenance expenses that threaten their very existence.

Producer-cum-exhibitor Shirish Reddy's comments at the meeting have gone viral for all the right reasons. His pointed question cuts to the heart of the industry's lopsided economics: "A hero has the right to demand his remuneration. A producer has the right to sell his film at his rate. A distributor has the right to protect his business. Then why shouldn't an exhibitor who has invested crores in building theaters have the same rights?"

This isn't just about money: it's about equity in an industry where single screens have become the forgotten stepchildren. While multiplexes across the country operate on percentage sharing models, Telugu states' single screens remain trapped in an outdated rental system that's bleeding them dry.

Shirish Reddy made another telling observation, referencing a producer who once callously told struggling theaters to "shut down if you can't make it work." That producer, Reddy noted, has since left the industry entirely, abandoning filmmaking altogether: a stark reminder that sustainable business practices benefit everyone in the ecosystem.

The exhibitors' commitment to not burden audiences with higher ticket prices, even if the government permits rate hikes, demonstrates their understanding that survival depends on audience loyalty, not exploitation. Their focus remains laser-sharp: it's not about ticket rates, it's about theater survival.

As single screens continue to be the backbone of Telugu cinema's reach across smaller towns and cities, this movement represents more than just a business dispute: it's a fight for the soul of our industry's distribution network.