Tightfisted actors

Tamil superstars who mint money in Tollywood, thanks to their dubbed films, have not come forward to contribute for the industry workers, despite the latter sending them feelers for the last two months

Tamil stars such as superstar Rajinikanth, Surya, Karthi, Vishal, Dhanush... garner anywhere between Rs 5-Rs 30 crore with the releases of their dubbed movies in the two Telugu states. However, none of them has thus far donated even a rupee to help cine workers in the Telugu film industry.

Producer Bandla Ganesh is one of those criticising the

Kollywood superstars. “Telugu cine workers are going through difficult times, and I believe Tamil superstars can do their bit even if only from the huge

earnings they make from the two Telugu states,” says the producer Bandla Ganesh, who also shares his thoughts on how the Tamil dubbed movies are eating into Telugu film collections. “Tamil stars have dented box office collections of some Telugu movies, and it is high time they pay back.”

Apart from the Chiranjeeviled Corona Crisis Charity Mana

Kosam, which is leading the pack by extending help to cine workers, trade bodies are chipping in by providing essentials and financial support for the cine workers.

This is indeed an unprecedented crisis, and big Tamil stars can chip in with their contributions. The Tamil stars have expanded their fan base in the two Telugu states, and it has almost become their second largest market after Tamil Nadu.”

ABHISHEK NAMA, producer–distributor

However, the industry still needs more money given that the lockdown is only being extended.

“This is indeed an unprecedented crisis, and big Tamil stars can chip in with their contributions, if possible,” points out producer-distributor Abhishek Nama, who has previously distributed movies of Rajinikanth, Surya, Karthi and Prabhu Deva in the two Telugu states. “Undoubtedly, Tamil stars have expanded their fan base in the two Telugu states, and it has almost become their second largest market after

Tamil Nadu. In fact, they make `5 crore to `30 crore on each of their releases, depending on the craze their film gets. Sure, some films have bombed recently, but even so, the demand for Tamil stars I the two states is only growing by the day.”

When contacted, Riaz K. Ahmed, PRO of superstar Rajinikanth, says that he wasn’t sure about the Robo star receiving any feelers from the Telugu film industry. “Frankly, I haven’t been able to meet him in the last

two months owing to lockdown, so I am not sure,” he says. “But it could also be that the Tollywood bigwigs may have not have approached Rajini sir through the proper channel. Undeniably, Tollywood and Telugu audience are close to his heart, and Rajinikanth sir is a big-hearted man and has always come forward to help the needy. In fact, he has helped thousands of cine workers personally in the last two months besides contributing to industry and other organisations in Tamil Nadu,” he points out.

Riaz Ahmed, the PRO of Rajinikanth’s son-in-law and

National-Award winning actor Dhanush, admits that Dhanush is very happy with the response he is getting from Telugu movie buffs. “He found his footing in the Telugu states with the blockbuster Raghuvaran B. Tech (dubbed from the Tamil blockbuster Vellaiyilla Pathathari), and he hasn’t looked back ever since.”

Telugu cine workers are going through difficult times. Tamil superstars can do their bit even if only from the huge earnings they make from the two Telugu states. Tamil dubbed movies are eating into Telugu film collections. Tamil stars have dented box office collections of some Telugu movies, and it is high time they pay back — Bandla Ganesh