Vijayawada: P. Bharat Bhushan on Sunday assumed charge as chairman of the Andhra Pradesh State Film, Television and Theatre Development Corporation (APSFTVTDC), while Chikkala Meher Ramesh Kumar took oath as vice-chairman at the corporation office in the NTR Administrative Building here.
Speaking after the ceremony, Bharat Bhushan said he would work for the growth of cinema, television, theatre and arts in Andhra Pradesh.
He thanked Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, tourism and cinematography minister Kandula Durgesh and MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna for entrusting him with the responsibility.
Tourism, culture and cinematography minister Kandula Durgesh said the film, television and arts sectors had been neglected between 2019 and 2024 and asserted that the coalition government had launched efforts to revive them.
He said the government was committed to reviving the prestigious Nandi Awards and Nandi Natakotsavams under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.
The minister highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s potential as a film destination, citing locations such as Araku Valley, Maredumilli, Tirupati and Amaravati. He urged producers and industry leaders to invest in studios, dubbing theatres and recording facilities in the state.
MLA and actor Nandamuri Balakrishna said 65 to 70 per cent of Telugu film revenues still came from Andhra Pradesh and stressed the need for a single-window system for shooting permissions and police protection.
He also called for restoration of incentives and awards for the industry, noting that theatre owners, distributors and film workers were facing hardships.
APSFTVTDC managing director K.S. Viswanathan said the government aimed to develop Amaravati into a “creative capital”.
Actor Suman Talwar and actress Y. Jhansi, appointed as directors on the board, expressed confidence that the new corporation would strengthen the Telugu film industry and generate employment opportunities.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
