Telugu film industry launches war against piracy
What's the story
The Telugu film industry is stepping up its battle against piracy after the illegal online leaks of several high-profile films. The decision comes after the recent illegal distribution of popular movies like Pushpa 2: The Rule, Kalki 2898 AD, Devara: Part 1, Game Changer, Thandel, and HanuMan. The films were illicitly made available on various websites hours after their official release.
Industry stance
Filmmakers and actors unite against piracy
Prominent personalities from the Telugu film industry, including filmmakers Allu Aravind, Bunny Vas, and Dil Raju, and actors Vishwak Sen and Anjali, have spoken out against the growing menace of piracy. They have all reiterated that the industry stands united against these illegal activities. Despite earlier complaints resulting in arrests, they feel real change can only come with audiences watching films in theaters instead of pirating them.
Piracy shockwave
'Thandel' piracy incident sparked industry outrage
The recent success of Chandoo Mondeti's film Thandel, which grossed ₹62cr worldwide in its opening weekend, was marred by a shocking piracy incident. Producers Aravind and Vas were appalled to discover the movie being shown on an APSRTC bus through a cable network. Additionally, high-definition copies of the film have reportedly been shared across WhatsApp and Telegram groups.
Industry's response
'Want to curb it now before it does more damage'
Speaking at a press conference in Hyderabad, Aravind said, "Piracy went down for a while thanks to our efforts and the advent of OTT, but it's rearing its ugly head again. We want to curb it now before it does more damage." He added they have filed complaints and arrests are imminent. Vas also stressed they are committed to taking decisive legal action against those involved in piracy.
Reporting piracy
Public urged to report piracy, anti-piracy cell in action
Aravind and Vas have urged the public to report any case of Thandel piracy by reaching out to them directly. The Film Chamber's anti-piracy cell is also doing its part in tackling these issues. Meanwhile, actor Sen recently received threats of his upcoming film Laila leaking over a political comment made by his co-star, 30 Years Prudhvi. Producer Sahu Garapati said they would follow Aravind's lead and take legal action if the threat materializes.