Telugu Film Chamber Meeting Deferred; Elections High On Agenda

If industry sources are to be believed, the much-awaited AGM of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce has been postponed by two to three weeks.

“The General Body meeting was initially scheduled to be held on October 26 at the Film Chamber premises in Jubilee Hills. However, the police refused permission citing the Jubilee Hills Assembly elections and advised the Chamber to hold the meeting after November 11. Discussions are currently on,” said a source, adding that the meeting has become a necessity rather than a formality due to the extension of tenure of the existing body.

“A senior producer called on the existing committee to get their extension approved by the General Assembly as elections are mandatory. They had already postponed it for three months before fixing the October 26 date, following pressure from former chairmen and other senior members who demanded elections to form a new body,” the source added.

Postponement of elections has become a very important and controversial issue; A few members even staged protests demanding elections rather than extending the mandate of the current body. The existing committee, led by President Bharat Bushan, Vice President Ashok Kumar, General Secretary Damodar Prasad, Treasurer T. Prasanna Kumar and Joint Secretary Mohan Vadlapatla, reportedly received support in an executive committee meeting to continue the mission.

“This extension was agreed after long deliberations among members of the executive committee; 34 out of 38 present support the extension and there are also several bodies whose terms have been extended in the past, as well as many unresolved issues,” said a member of the current body. “Participants in both the Telugu states are restless, Andhra Pradesh government is unhappy with several members and Telangana government has expressed concern over the actual revenue figures of the Telugu film industry. These complex issues need to be handled carefully by experienced producers and not hasty changes,” he explained.

However, a member of the rival group rejected these claims, saying, “Only 30-odd members cannot decide the fate of the elections. We have to comply with the statute. There are 4,000 members in the Parliament and only they can decide whether to preserve or change the current body. The General Assembly meeting plays a key role in solving this problem.”

He added: “The majority of members oppose the extension and even some former presidents insist that the elections be held according to the rules.”

When contacted, C. Kalyan, former President of Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce, reiterated the same stance. “Elections are essential. The chamber consists of four sectors – producers, distributors, exhibitors and studio owners – and each must have a chance to lead. Extensions without elections are illegal and invalid,” he said.