Dil Raju, a renowned producer in the Telugu film industry and newly appointed chairman of the Telangana Film Development Corporation (FDC), recently attended a meeting with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to discuss the future of the state's film industry. The meeting, which also included several prominent film personalities, focused on broader issues related to the growth of the film industry and its role in Hyderabad’s development, as well as some specific challenges facing the industry.
During the meeting, Dil Raju shared key insights with the press about what transpired, particularly emphasizing the Chief Minister's vision for Hyderabad. According to Raju, Revanth Reddy expressed a strong desire to elevate Hyderabad into an international hub for filmmaking. The Chief Minister acknowledged the growing influence of the Telugu film industry, which has garnered respect across the country. He noted, “The Telugu film industry has been growing and garnering the country's respect. The CM wants the film industry to grow exponentially and help it become an international hub.”
Revanth Reddy outlined his aspiration for Hyderabad to host not only regional and national film productions but also international content. “Numerous language films and shows are often shot here, and the CM wants even international content to be shot in Hyderabad soon,” Raju explained. To take this vision forward, the FDC is expected to present a proposal to the Chief Minister in the coming days, focusing on strategies to attract global filmmaking to the city.
Raju further revealed that the CM also called on the film industry to contribute to spreading social awareness on important issues like drugs, women's safety, and other societal concerns. He clarified, “The CM asked the film industry for its support in spreading social awareness regarding drugs, women’s safety, and other issues.” Raju dismissed rumors suggesting that there was any tension between the state government and the film industry, stemming from recent incidents, such as the Pushpa 2 stampede case. “Due to unexpected incidents lately, there are rumours there’s a gap between the government and the film industry, but that’s not true. We also spoke to the police about being amicable moving forward,” he said, attempting to put concerns to rest.
One of the most discussed topics during the meeting was the tragic stampede incident that occurred during the premiere of Allu Arjun’s *Pushpa 2: The Rule*. The stampede resulted in the death of a woman and the hospitalization of her young son. Reports have claimed that CM Revanth Reddy addressed this issue directly, urging the film industry to ensure greater responsibility when hosting public events. According to some reports, the CM mentioned that special shows, benefit shows, and ticket hikes would not be permitted in the state moving forward.
When the press asked Raju about these measures, he dismissed the issue as insignificant. “That is such a small issue; it is not important. Today's agenda was to discuss how to make Hyderabad an international movie hub. 200 movies are released here per year. Stop asking about Sankranthi movies, benefit shows, and ticket hikes; they are unimportant,” Raju said emphatically. He stressed that the film industry faces larger challenges that should be the focus at this moment. “Time will tell, and that can be discussed later. We have a bigger challenge to tackle now,” he added.
This response reflects Raju's commitment to focusing on the broader issues facing the industry and supporting the Chief Minister’s goal of making Hyderabad a global filmmaking center. The meeting also saw the participation of other film industry leaders, including Allu Aravind, Harish Shankar, Nagarjuna, Venkatesh, and many more, signaling the collective effort of the industry to address key issues and push for growth.
As the film industry prepares to face these challenges, the tragic events surrounding Pushpa 2 and the ongoing dialogue with the Telangana government will remain crucial in shaping the future of both the industry and the state's film policies.
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