Film Chamber Polls: Mana Panel Pitches Transparency and Welfare
With the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce elections scheduled for December 28, members of the “Mana Panel” held a press meet to outline their vision for the industry and raise concerns over the current state of affairs within the Film Chamber.
Senior producer Chadalavada Srinivasa Rao stated that the Film Chamber comprises four key wings and emphasized that only collective coordination among all sections can ensure the healthy growth of the Telugu film industry. He alleged that over the last decade, the industry has suffered due to the arbitrary functioning of the Guild, which he accused of prioritizing personal interests over industry welfare. He claimed that workers were forced to wait for nearly 20 days without resolution and that shooting schedules were stalled by Guild members themselves.
Criticizing the Guild leadership, he said they were more focused on publicity and photo opportunities with Chief Ministers rather than addressing genuine industry concerns. He pointed out that a recent workers’ issue was resolved within 24 hours by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, despite it being the Chamber’s responsibility. He also highlighted the challenges faced by small producers due to systems such as Qube and UFO, which he said were ignored by the Guild. Assuring accessibility, he said “Mana Panel” members would be available to industry members at any time if elected.
Addressing the media, producer C. Kalyan criticized the so-called “Progressive Panel,” stating that their claims of legacy and self-respect served only personal agendas. He alleged that despite gaining the support of small producers two years ago, they failed to deliver any tangible results after coming to power. He accused Guild members of spreading misinformation and neglecting small films.
He further clarified that the Chamber building does not belong to any individual nor exclusively to the film industry. Expressing concern over the alleged misuse of Film Nagar Cooperative Society properties, he stressed that the livelihoods of cinema workers and artists from Krishna Nagar largely depend on small films. He also dismissed misleading narratives around OTT platforms, ticket pricing, and piracy, urging Chamber members to support “Mana Panel,” which he said has representation across all industry sectors.
Ravichand Yalamanchili remarked that welfare initiatives under the Chamber Council were far more effective in earlier years. He alleged that Guild members made promises before elections but betrayed members after assuming office. Accusing senior producers of acting in self-interest, he appealed to small producers to back “Mana Panel” to restore accountability and stability within the industry.
Producer Natti Kumar said there was virtually no support from the Guild, claiming that elected representatives failed to even attend meetings. He alleged that Guild funds were misused by a few individuals for personal benefit. Highlighting their group’s efforts to secure medical insurance for nearly 1,600 members, he criticized the false promises made during previous elections. He emphasized the need to respect seniors and ensure medical assistance reaches those genuinely in need. He assured that “Mana Panel” would work towards medical insurance coverage and securing a fifth show for small films.
Recalling the COVID period, Thummala Prasanna Kumar stated that Chadalavada Srinivasa Rao had personally extended financial support to many industry members. He alleged that while small producers funded their nominations from personal resources, Guild members misused Guild funds. He criticized the practice of repeatedly approaching the Labour Commissioner and accused Guild leaders of manipulating ticket pricing policies despite the Chief Minister’s clear stance. He urged the government to utilize available land near Padmalaya Studios for industry development and reiterated that “Mana Panel” would work sincerely for small producers and workers if given the mandate.
The speakers jointly appealed to all Film Chamber members to support “Mana Panel” in the upcoming elections, stating that their goal is to restore transparency, unity, and genuine welfare within the Telugu film industry.
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