Telugu Film Chamber Meeting Deferred; Elections High On Agenda
“A top producer urged the present committee to get their extension ratified by the General Body since elections are mandatory. They had already postponed them for three months before fixing October 26, following pressure from former presidents and other senior members who demanded elections to form a new body,” the source added
Hyderabad: The much-awaited general body meeting (GBM) of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC) has been deferred by two to three weeks, according to sources. “The GBM was scheduled for October 26 at the Film Chamber premises in Jubilee Hills. However, police denied permission citing the Jubilee Hills Assembly byelection and advised the chamber to hold the meeting after November 11. Discussions are currently underway,” revealed a source. The meeting, the source added, has now become more of a necessity than a formality due to the extension of the current body’s term.
“A top producer urged the present committee to get its extension ratified by the General Body since elections are mandatory. They had already postponed them for three months before fixing October 26, following pressure from former presidents and senior members who demanded polls to form a new body,” the source said.
The delay in elections has become a crucial and contentious issue, with a few members even holding protests to demand that elections be held instead of extending the existing body’s tenure. The current committee, led by president Bharat Bushan, vice-president Ashok Kumar, general secretary Damodar Prasad, treasurer T. Prasanna Kumar and joint secretary Mohan Vadlapatla, has reportedly secured the executive committee’s support to continue in office.
“This extension was agreed upon after much deliberation, with 34 of the 38 members present backing it. Moreover, several other bodies had also received extended tenures in the past,” said a member of the existing body. “Exhibitors across both Telugu states are restless, the Andhra Pradesh government is displeased with a few members, and the Telangana government has raised concerns about the actual revenue figures of the Telugu film industry. These complex issues need careful handling by experienced producers, not hasty changes,” he explained.
However, a member of the rival group dismissed those claims, saying, “Just 30-odd members cannot decide the fate of elections. We must follow the bylaws. There are 4,000 members in the Chamber, and only they can decide whether to retain or replace the current body. The GBM is key to resolving this.” He added that most members oppose the extension and that several former presidents are insisting on elections as per the rules.
When contacted, C. Kalyan, former president of the TFCC, echoed the same view. “Elections are a must. The Chamber comprises four sectors — producers, distributors, exhibitors and studio owners — and each must get its fair chance to lead. Extensions without elections are illegal and void,” he asserted.
