Telugu States Exhibitors Announce Theatre Shutdown from June 1

Theatres across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana may shut down starting June 1 if exhibitors and producers fail to reach an agreement soon. According to reports, around 60 exhibitors met with prominent Telugu film producers, including Dil Raju and Suresh Babu, on Sunday to discuss ongoing disputes over the current rental-based revenue model.

Single-Screen Theatres in AP, TS Threaten Shutdown from June 1

A joint meeting was held in Hyderabad on Sunday between the Exhibitors’ Association and prominent figures from the Telugu film industry. During the discussions, exhibitors demanded a shift from the current rental-based model to a percentage-based revenue system and announced a bandh of single-screen theatres across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana starting June 1, unless the issue is resolved.

Exhibitors also voiced concerns about the shrinking theatrical window, urging producers to delay films’ OTT releases to protect box office earnings.

However, the meeting saw the absence of several key distributors and producers, indicating a lack of consensus within the industry. A formal proposal is expected to be submitted to the Film Chamber in the coming days for further negotiation before the June 1 deadline.

If no agreement is reached, the bandh could impact major summer releases. Only multiplexes not affiliated with the Exhibitors’ Association are expected to continue operations during the shutdown.

Which Films Could Be Affected?

Several major releases may be impacted if the theatre bandh extends into June. Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1, directed by Krish and Jyothi Krishna and featuring Pawan Kalyan, Bobby Deol, and Nidhhi Agerwal, is now scheduled for release on June 12, after being postponed from its original May 30 date and Vijay Devarakonda’s Kingdom, is set to hit the screens on May 30.

Mani Ratnam’s Thug Life, starring Kamal Haasan, Silambarasan TR, and Trisha Krishnan, is set to hit screens on June 5 in both Tamil and dubbed Telugu versions.

If the shutdown continues further, Sekhar Kammula’s Kuberaa, starring Dhanush, Nagarjuna, Rashmika Mandanna, and Jim Sarbh, could also face disruption ahead of its June 20 release. Likewise, Kannappa, directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh and starring Vishnu Manchu—along with cameo appearances by Akshay Kumar, Prabhas, Mohanlal, and others—is slated for release on June 27 and may also be affected.