It is now official. The Andhra Pradesh government issued an order (Memo No. 3829/General.A/A2/2017) on Monday, accorded permissions to the managements of theatres and multiplexes to screen special shows of Agnyathavasi on the eve of Sankranti festival from January 10 to 17 between 1 am and 10 am in the entire state.
The permission was granted following a representation given by Haarika and Hassine Creations, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, besides managements of a couple of theatres in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.
The order was issued by relaxing the condition 43 of Form B licence under AP Cinema (Regulations) Rules, 1970 (which restrict the number of shows per day).
It does mean, the theatres and multiplexes can run the shows of Agnyathavasi round the clock.
So far, it is not known whether the Telangana government, too, issued a similar order, since the Nizam area including Hyderabad is the biggest revenue earner for any film.
Now, the question is whether Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu would extend similar benefit to other films being released during Sankranti festival.
Interestingly, Naidu’s own brother-in-law and TDP MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna’s film Jai Simha is also set for release on January 12 and another entertaining film Rangula Ratnam starring Raj Tarun and produced by Akkineni Nagarjuna is also being released on January 14.
Of course, a dubbing film Gang of Tamil actor Suriya is also going to be released on January 13.
When Agnyathavasi can get the permission for full-day screenings, why can’t these films, too, be allowed screening for the whole day? No quid pro quo here?
