Spread of coronavirus in India is impacting all professions and industries. Tollywood is experiencing coronavirus impact as empty theatres are greeting everyone. This is making everyone whether coronavirus is really impacting the business in Tollywood. This is because couple of films got good reviews from everyone but theatres are having an empty look. This is coupled with the economy sliding down, YesBank impacting people and also students busy writing exams.
Entire film industry across the country is witnessing drop of 20-25% collections in the films. Kerala announced complete shutdown due to coronavirus. Though no one is coming out in open, theatres are sporting an empty look in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. So inevitably schedules of new films and releases should be changed. Many say it is not the scheduled time but rescheduled time in film industry. Even Hollywood film, James Bond's No Time To Die which was supposed to hit in April this year got postponed to November.
Tollywood filmmakers with corona fears are now thinking twice to go ahead with the overseas schedules. Many of them cancelled their schedules and are now planning to shoot the films in Hyderabad and other places. Not only theatres but also shopping malls are wearing a deserted look.
D Suresh Babu says, “Coronavirus impact is there. There are no great films in the market. Baaghi 3 talk is not good so too are the collections. Corona effect is felt up to 20-25% on theatres. The effect is seen on food courts in multiplexes. March month is not suitable for film releases. Since there are no big releases, losses will be there for the next two months. From this month 20 and 25th, big films are releasing in Bollywood and Tollywood respectively. If corona affect is there after Ugadi, then April and May is expected to witness even more miserable situation.”
Sunil Narang says, “People are not coming to theatres as there are no good films. People are not coming to AMB Mall even after booking their tickets. There is 25% corona effect on theatres."
Alankar Prasad, distributor from Vijayawada says, “Theatres are witnessing less occupancy due to summer and intermediate exams. March month is not suited for film releases. Municipal elections started in Andhra Pradesh and people are experiencing corona scare."
Veeri Naidu, distributor from Northern Andhra says, “People are not seen on roads and northern Andhra theatres are empty for some reason be it inter exams or coronavirus scare. One feels there is corona scare is there."
Bhoopal Prasad, exhibitor, Vijayawada says, “Corona effect is there on films in Vijayawada. People are scared that they may get affected if they do not take precautions. So malls are empty in Vijayawada. Though the government and doctors are assuring them, with fears still on, people going to theatres decreased. The last two weeks film releases did not get any collections. There is 25% effect of corona on collections. Inter exams is the other reason for dip in collections".
Makers of Nani and Sudheer Babu starrer V are planning to postpone their film to next month. Announcement on the same is expected in a day or two.