Does TFPC's "only Telugu straight films" notice directly attack Dil Raju's 'Varisu'?

The Telugu Film Producers Council's recent press note concerning dubbed releases during the Sankranthi season has surprised many. The note, which was shared on November 12, 2022, contained in a nutshell that direct Telugu releases, or films that are made in Telugu, must be given priority as far as theatre occupancy or distribution is concerned during the upcoming festive season in January. And, the press note adds, dubbed releases must be offered the remaining theatrical space.

"Keeping in view the increased cost of production of Telugu films, the welfare of Producers and to save the Telugu Film Industry," cited TFPC as the main reason to request exhibitors in prioritising only Telugu straight films over dubbed releases. The note also refers to an emergency meeting held in 2017 that passed a resolution saying "only Telugu straight films should be given preference during the festivals of Sankranthi and Dassera."

This reminder by the TFPC, so to speak, puts noted film producer Dil Raju in a bit of a fix. Raju, along with superstar Vijay and director Vamsi Paidipally, is gearing up for the release of his Tamil film Varisu on January 12, during Sankranthi. Varisu is being dubbed in Telugu as Varasudu and reportedly, Dil Raju has been trying his best to fetch the film a wide release and in fact, prioritise it over other straight Telugu films like Waltair Veerayya and Veera Simha Reddy. And while he may have the clout to do so, the latest press note, however, is likely to be a major obstacle in his pursuits.

To make things more interesting, the TFPC also goes on to include in its media statement that it was Dil Raju himself who had lamented back in the year 2019 that direct Telugu films must not lose out to dubbed releases on theatre allocation and therefore, the same must be upheld today as another important Sankranthi season approaches. 

While Raju is yet to respond to the press note and TFPC's stance on the matter, one can assume that the Megastar Chiranjeevi-starrer Waltair Veerayya (releasing on January 11) and Nandamuri Balakrishna's 106th film Veera Simha Reddy will have one less film to contend with at the box office.