Actor-filmmaker R Narayana Murthy, known for his socially conscious films that spotlight the struggles of common people, stated that issues related to theatres have existed for a long time and that discussions to resolve them have been ongoing for several months. He clarified that the demand to replace the rental system with a percentage-based model is not a new one and is unrelated to the release of “Hari Hara Veera Mallu.”
Murthy criticized the Deputy Chief Minister of AP Pawan Kalyan for misunderstanding the issue and thereby complicating matters.
Like many others in the film industry, R Narayana Murthy reiterated that no official decision was made to shut down theatres starting June 1st. “No one has the authority to enforce a shutdown. It was merely a proposal, not a finalized decision,” he emphasized. However, he alleged that Pawan Kalyan unnecessarily linked the issue to his film, which derailed the ongoing efforts and discussions within the industry.
Murthy also took issue with Pawan Kalyan’s suggestion that members of the film industry should personally meet the Chief Minister and himself. “Even during the times of monarchy, when democracy didn’t exist, rulers would come to the people and inquire about their problems,” Narayana Murthy remarked.
R Narayana Murthy stated that he has been advocating for the percentage-based revenue system in theatres for nearly 25 years, and had even urged the late Rama Naidu to support it. “After the late N.T. Rama Rao, Pawan Kalyan is the most influential politician to emerge from the Telugu film industry. I take pride in his rise and success as a political leader. However, it would have been better if he had taken a more proactive role in addressing the film industry’s issues, especially since he is now part of the government,” Murthy said.
R Narayana Murthy’s double standards?
Meanwhile, Pawan Kalyan’s fans and TDP supporters have pointed out what they consider a contradiction. They claim that R Narayana Murthy was part of the delegation that previously met with then-Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. They question why Murthy had no objection to meeting the former CM in person, and why he now expects the current leadership to approach the film industry in Hyderabad instead.
