'Friend Request' affair: Mayor, Rajendra Prasad assure small producers
- IndiaGlitz, [Monday,July 11 2016]
Four days after the team of Friend Request, led by actor-director Adithya Om, sat down on a dharna demanding that justice be done in allocation of theatres for their film, the team withdrew the hunger strike following interventions by Bonthu Ram Mohan, the Mayor of Hyderabad, and Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the President of MAA. After assuring them of help, the two elders made the team withdraw from the strike.
The Mayor said, "It's very unfortunate that they had to go on a hunger strike to get theatres allotted for themselves. The concerned authorities need to ensure that proper checks are in place as a permanent solution to the problems faced by small producers today."
Rajendra Prasad said, "It's very sad that Friend Request got only one theatre and two shows on day one in Hyderabad. I learn that the film is now running with 80 per cent occupancy levels in four theatres across the city. Recently, Bicchagadu too got only a few theatres to begin with, but it went on to become a big hit. I hope Friend Request too becomes such a big hit. We have set up a four member committee, of which I am a part, to evolve a permanent solution."
Adithya Om said, "We are thankful to all of those who stood by us in recent days. Our film will get additional theatres in the coming days. We are very happy that Ram Mohan garu and Rajendra Prasad garu have assured of a permanent solution."
MLA Govardhan Reddy, Producers' Sector Chairma Patrani Ramakrishna Goud, Telangana MAA President Naga Raju and others were also present.