Recently, producer S Naga Vamsi observed that about ten years ago, the daily production cost of Rs 15 lakhs was considered big. Cut to the present, even the daily production cost of a mid-range film exceeds Rs 15 lakhs. He further shared that the rise in budgets was not just because of actors' remuneration, and that the major reasons were inefficiencies in production management on sets, middlemen, and wastage caused by last-minute changes.
"Middlemen" did he say? What? Is the film industry not capitalistic? What is this unwanted tribe doing there? Producers have rarely talked about this problem, but it has been eating into their profit margins for years. In the same interview, Naga Vamsi revealed that 150 people are always present on set when 50 could do. These unwanted 100 are parasites whose employment is mandated by various Federations (in other words, unions).
Come to think of it, who gives the authority to these unions to dictate arbitrary terms to producers? How do they make some of the richest producers in the country submit to their diktats?
As per the word in Film Nagar circles, those in power wield authority through these unions and federations. In the name of promoting "local talent" and job creation, production houses are made to employ these extra workers who are not needed in the first place. It's highly probable that there is a kickback network in operation. A part of these wages must be reaching politicians.
As production costs rise, ticket prices will keep climbing. So if you are stuck paying high prices, you can point the finger at whoever is calling the shots.
