APFDC Chairman Bharat Bhushan attended the Andhra Pradesh Cine Exhibitors Forum meeting in Vijayawada and discussed the major issues faced by theatre owners and exhibitors.
He said the government has been requested to introduce a single-window licence renewal system with a five-year validity for all departments, including Fire and Cinematography. He added that discussions have already been held with ministers and MLAs, and the government has responded positively.
Bharat Bhushan said Andhra Pradesh once had over 2,000 theatres, but the number has now fallen to around 1,200, with nearly 400 theatres closing in the last 3–4 months.
He said increasing ticket prices alone will not solve the problem. The government should also support theatres through affordable power tariffs, reasonable maintenance charges and uniform ticket pricing.
He added that discussions are continuing on ticket price hikes, but exhibitors should consider market conditions and avoid excessive pricing. He stressed that exhibitors, producers and the government must work together to protect the theatre industry.
