Now, Dogs Star in Film Publicity

By M H Ahssan

2 Puppies Set To Hog Limelight In Tollywood For The 1st Time

For the first time in the ‘dogeat-dog’ world of Tollywood, two pretty dogs have been given glorious place, something that has never been heard of in the industry known for ‘hero worship’. The two dainty puppies are prominently featured on the posters of a new movie to be released on Friday.

Usually, it is either an angry-looking hero or six-pack, muscle-flexing hunk or a scantily clad heroine who dominates the publicity material. But now, for the first time, only two dogs feature on the posters of ‘Nachchavule’, a film produced by Ramoji Rao and directed by Ravi Babu. The message obviously intended to be conveyed is: a movie does not sell because of its artistes alone.

However, it is not just the dogs in the movie poster that are telling a story about where the film industry is going. A movie released to packed houses on Thursday has a scene which describes the state of affairs in the Telugu film industry in the boldest possible manner.

“If I do not get a hero, I can make a film with a dog in the lead character,” comedian Brahmanandam says in the film, ‘Neninthe’, starring Ravi Teja and directed by Puri Jagannath. These lines have become USP of the film and being repeatedly shown in TV promos.

In another hit movie, ‘Khadgam’, directed by Krishna Vamsi seven years ago, through the character he played, Ravi Teja pokes fun at the big heroes who prefer to be as ‘Babu’, a reverential term. The specific target then was Nagarjuna.

“Clearly, the reference to a ‘dog’ in ‘Neninthe’ is intended to take a dig at the top heroes of the film industry who play hard to get,” a movie analyst said. But the clawing in the film industry has just begun. Comedian-turned-producer Babu Mohan has literally been barking allegations against big-budget film producers and distributors accusing them of unethical practices and controlling theatres. “There is no unity in the film industry which is being ruled by a handful of selfish producers,” Babu Mohan declared.

Some other small producers who agreed with his allegation that Suresh Babu, Allu Aravind, Dil Raju and Dasari Narayana Rao were ruling the roost, sat on a dharna at the A P Film Chamber of Commerce at Filmnagar. However, the top producers pooh-poohed the charges.

If small producers have drawn their daggers at their big brothers, an open fight is also being fought between producers and exhibitors. At present, exhibitors (theatre owners) are giving their theatres on lease. Producers want a switch over to the percentage system wherein they would get a lion’s share of the revenue while the rest - perhaps 20 per cent - would be left for the exhibitor. Theatre owners, ideally, want 50 per cent revenue.

This has led to unrest in the film industry. On December 21, the Telugu Film Producers Council is meeting to take stock of the situation and suspend film shootings if the issue does not get settled in their favour. The Hyderabad State Film Chamber of Commerce, which is a body of exhibitors has also convened a meeting on December 22 to demonstrate their strength.

The fight in the film industry is not just about business. Alongside, there a battle is also being fought on political lines. “Never before has there been so much of bad blood in the industry. The make-up has peeled off and everyone is showing their true colours and countering each other openly,” a film analyst said.

Actors, producers and directors have thrown in their lot with either the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Congress or indicated that they are solidly with Chiranjeevi who launched his ‘Prajarajyam Party’.