Directors should take share not pay: Producers

The conflict between producer DVV Danayya and director Boyapati Srinu for the last few days has brought the spotlight back on hefty remunerations pocketed by top Telugu directors. Top-rung directors like Trivikram Srinivas, V V Vinayak, Koratala Siva, Puri Jagannath, Srinu Vaitla and few others are reportedly drawing more than Rs 10 to 12 crore. “Leading directors should follow Rajamouli since he takes a share in business instead of demanding hefty remuneration upfront.

In that way, a director becomes part and parcel of the project and understands the difficulties of the producers and also tries to cut cost,” says producer Bogavalli Prasad, who feels that such a ‘sharing module’ would reduce the risk on producers and allows directors to pocket their due pay. “It would be a win-win situation for both producer and director. Such an arrangement can avoid uncceesary wrangling over remunerations,” adds Prasad. With big directors unable to spin box office magic, the ‘sharing method’ looks to be safe proposition for directors.

“Most of the directors want their remuneration and leave the headache of business risks on producers, that is main problem persisting in T-town for the last few years,” says producer Nallamalapu Bujji. Barring Rajamouli who takes a share in business from the days of ‘Maryadaramanna’ to ‘Bahubali’ to create a new path for seasoned directors. “Rajamouli’s working style is different. He focuses on one project at a time and invests all his energies on it. With his family members handling music, writing, costumes and other key departments, he takes his money as a package towards completion of the film.

That way, he is ensuring the success of the film and also reducing the burden on producers who need not payRs 20 or 25 crore upfront during the making of the film,” adds producer Pupalla Ramesh. Even another top director Trivikram Srinivas also follows the same pattern and has an understanding with his producer Chinnababu and which is a welcome measure. ‘We wish more directors join the party and make filmmaking a viable proposition since Telugu audience are mercilessly thumbing down bad movies,” adds Ramesh.

It is learnt that even Vinayak is thinking of taking partial remuneration and ready to wait for the sucess of the film to claim his balance cheque amount. “Rather than paying hefty sums, producers are chasing young and upcoming directors as they can be roped in for Rs 2 or 3 crore, rather than paying more than Rs 10 crore to a big director, which is almost half-of-the amount of superstar. This has to change. Otherwise industry will be pushed to the brink sooner than later.”