Will Telugu producers also demand a ban on fan reviews on YouTube after the first show? Dil Raju explains

The Tamil Nadu Producers Council (TNPC) issued a strongly worded statement on Wednesday urging theater owners to ban fan reviews on YouTube during the first screenings of films. The issue has been discussed frequently in the Telugu states as well, with exhibitors and producers claiming that they are influencing the film’s collections. When asked about it, here’s what producer Dil Raju had to say. (Also read: After Kanguva debacle, Tamil Nadu producers demand ban on YouTube channels in theatres)

Dil Raju bans reviews on YouTube

When asked if Telugu producers are also planning to take similar measures, the producer, who was promoting his film Sankrantiki Vastunnam with Venkatesh in Hyderabad, said, “Kerala has already implemented something similar and Tamil Nadu has just decided. I am sure it will be successful there,” he said, adding, “I think it will automatically be implemented in our state (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana collectively).”

However, Raju said that no final decision had been taken and that he was not required to take a decision on his own. “But this is not an independent decision; the House will meet and discuss this first. The exhibitors are already ready for this step, so it will soon happen through the House,” he added, hinting that a similar move will be implemented soon in Telugu states.

What’s the problem?

Reviewers, especially those posting on YouTube, and directors and actors in the Telugu film industry have been at loggerheads for some time now. The film industry says negative reviews left on the first day of an initial screening on YouTube tend to impact collections. They also often stated that these reviews are subjective, claiming that the negativity is just for the sake of fan wars.

Surya’s Kanguva producer KE Gnanavel Raja also said at the press meet that the negative reviews of the film are mainly due to such fan wars. He said: “Trolling originally came from fan wars. But the general public likes the film, no one trolls the content. They only troll because of politics. We have seen it happen with Devara too,” he said, citing Koratala Siva Jr., Saif Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor’s recent NTR as an example.