A massive protest was staged by RK Goud and the team of Deeksha at the Hyderabad Film Chamber, demanding a reduction in digital charges and fair theatrical access for small-budget films. The team alleged that small films are facing serious struggles in securing theatre releases due to high Virtual Print Fee charges and theatre monopoly issues.
The protest was attended by Dr. Prathani Ramakrishna Goud, writer-director-producer of Deeksha and Chairman of the Telangana Film Chamber of Commerce, along with Producers’ Council Secretary Prasanna Kumar, producers Gururaj, JVR, Lion Sai Venkat, actors Kiran and Sheraz Mehdi, and several others. The protesters appealed to the government, Film Chamber and industry leaders to step in and protect the survival of small-budget cinema.
Speaking at the protest, Dr. Ramakrishna Goud said the main demand was to reduce VPF charges collected by digital content service providers such as Qube, UFO and PXD. He said small producers are forced to spend nearly ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh only on digital charges to release a film. He alleged that while digital charges in states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are much lower, producers in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are paying around ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 per theatre per week. He also claimed that even when films are removed from theatres within two or three days, the weekly digital charges are not refunded.
Dr. Ramakrishna Goud further said that Deeksha has completed business in all territories, but the film is facing theatre availability issues in the Nizam region. He said this is not just one film’s problem, but a larger issue affecting many small films. He also raised concerns over theatre monopoly, high ticket prices and expensive food and beverages in multiplexes, saying these factors are discouraging audiences from visiting theatres. He warned that the movement would intensify if digital charges are not reduced and small films are not given equal opportunities.
Producer Gururaj said the industry must support new talent and small films, as today’s newcomers can become tomorrow’s stars. He said there is no permanent difference between a small film and a big film, because only audience success decides a film’s real value. Actor Sheraz Mehdi said small films are the backbone of the film industry and every producer deserves fair treatment, whether the film is made on a small or big budget. Actor Kiran also said newcomers should not be stopped from releasing their films through theatre denial and heavy digital costs.
Producers’ Council Secretary Prasanna Kumar said digital projection was expected to reduce costs when the industry shifted from physical prints, but it has instead become a major burden for producers. He said these charges should have reduced over the years and urged the government, Film Chamber and multiplexes to take practical steps to support small films. Producer Lion Sai Venkat said many small producers pay lakhs of rupees to release their films in hundreds of theatres, but their films are removed from most screens within a day without refunding digital charges.
The protesters said small-budget films create employment, introduce new talent, win recognition and bring meaningful content to audiences. They demanded an immediate reduction in digital charges, fair access to theatres, refund support when films are removed early, and industry-level action to end the struggles of small producers. The team said the fight would continue until justice is delivered to small-budget cinema.
