Decision to allow film shooting in Andhra Pradesh hailed

Vijayawada: The decision of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to give permission for film shooting in Andhra Pradesh is a big boost to Telugu film industry and in particular for daily wage film workers, said Janga Chaitanya, president of Film and Television Promotion Council of Andhra Pradesh (FTPC).

Speaking to the media here, Chaitanya pointed out that film and television industry was providing livelihood to 30,000 workers in the State.

He informed that artistes, technicians, workers, theatre and studio staff depend on film and television industry to eke out their livelihood. He said due to sudden lockdown the industry collapsed and thousands have lost their livelihood.

"Now due to this decision taken by the State government, the shootings would start and normalcy would be restored. The decision of giving permission through single window and facilitating use of various locations free of cost will bring down the cost of production of cinema and serials and the decision would support production houses a lot," said Chaitanya.

He felt the decision would help AP to become film industry hub in the coming years.

FTPC secretary V S Varma Pakalapati said that if the State government allocates lands for studios and housing plots to artistes, technicians and workers, they were ready to shift to Visakhapatnam.