The sudden outburst by Jana Sena Party president and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan against the Telugu film industry — particularly his comments on the recent controversy over the proposed theatre shutdown — has sparked debate within film circles.
Although film exhibitors have since announced the withdrawal of their shutdown plans, the Jana Sena chief appears to suspect a deeper conspiracy behind the original decision.
Jana Sena leader and State Cinematography Minister Kandula Durgesh stated that he has requested the state home department to conduct a thorough investigation to uncover who was truly behind the proposed shutdown.
He added that Pawan Kalyan was deeply distressed by the issue, especially considering his continued support for resolving the industry's problems.
“Why has this decade-old issue resurfaced now? The truth must come out. There is speculation that the timing of this issue, coinciding with the release of a Pawan Kalyan film, may point to a conspiracy,” Durgesh said.
He added that further action would be taken only after all the facts are known, emphasizing the need for cooperation between the government and the film industry.
According to a statement released by Pawan Kalyan’s office, most theatres are currently operated by leaseholders, not by the original owners.
He has reportedly urged authorities to examine whether these leaseholders are properly paying taxes and whether the hike in ticket prices has led to a corresponding increase in tax revenue.
The statement also mentioned that the government would analyze the gap between ticket sales and actual tax collections.
Pawan Kalyan has asked for data on the number of multiplexes in the state, noting that in some towns, single-screen theatres have been subdivided into multiple screens and are now operating as multiplexes.
The government will also investigate whether there is a pricing discrepancy between these modified multiplexes and traditional single-screen theatres, and whether ticket prices at the counters reflect the approved rates.
