Peddi producer claims decisions regarding revenue were taken without his knowledge amid box office success

Peddi. Pic via X

Days before the release of Buchi Babu Sana's Peddi on June 4, the exhibitors and producers in Tollywood were quarrelling over the revenue model of films. While the Telangana Exhibitors Association stood firm on percentage-sharing for all future releases, the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC) wanted more time. Now, two weeks after the release of the Ram Charan-starrer, as it grosses over Rs 300 crore worldwide, producer Venkata Satish Kilaru of Vriddhi Cinemas claims that decisions about the film were made without his knowledge,

Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce's letter to Peddi producer leaked

A letter from TFCC, dated May 27, that has been leaked online, claimed that the body informed Venkata that a meeting between producers, distributors and exhibitors was held on May 15. In the meeting, it was allegedly decided on a percentage sharing system. Consequently, a sub-committee was formed with 21 members who discussed and approved some decisions regarding Peddi on May 26.

The letter read, "All the Members unanimously agreed for release of movie 'PEDDI' without any hindrance. For Andhra Pradesh - If there is any enhancement of the tickets for the movie 'PEDDI', 7.5 per cent (seven and half per cent) would be paid. For Premier Shows - per show, the payment will be made as detailed below Rs 25,000 for 'A' Centre, Rs.15,000/- for 'B' Centre, and Rs 5,000 for 'C' Centre."

The letter also added that the above model will apply to Telangana as well if the price is hiked. It also stated that the new percentage system will be decided before the next big release or by the end of June. The producer was asked to follow the model since the AP government had permitted ticket hikes for the film.

Peddi producer says decisions made without his knowledge

In a letter dated June 13 sent by the producer to TFCC, which was also leaked online, he stated that he wasn't present at the May 15 meeting. The producer also alleged also claimed that he hadn't received an intimation or invitation from the trade body to attend the meeting regarding Peddi. Venkat also mentioned that ‘certain decisions' regarding the film were taken without his ‘knowledge and participation.'

He also stated that in an earlier meeting, which he attended, he had informed the members that Peddi had already been sold to distributors and that the proposed sharing system wasn't acceptable. "By the copy of your above letter received recently from a few of our distributors, we came to understand that certain instructions/decisions have been taken unilaterally. without considering the facts and without giving us an opportunity to place our views. We are therefore not in a position to accept the same," a part of his letter read.

The producer also noted that Peddi is performing well at the box office, however, the agreements between distributors and exhibitors have already been finalised. "Any unilateral decision at this stage would cause serious financial and commercial difficulties to all the parties involved," he wrote.