Fri Jun 13 04:13:21 UTC 2025: ## Single-Screen Cinemas in Andhra Pradesh Grapple with Survival Amidst Shifting Entertainment Landscape

**VIJAYAWADA, June 13, 2025** – The golden age of single-screen cinemas in Andhra Pradesh is fading, with iconic theaters like Vijayawada’s Navarang Theatre struggling to stay afloat in a landscape dominated by multiplexes, streaming services, and a complex revenue-sharing model. Once bustling hubs of entertainment, many single-screen theaters have shuttered or been leased out as real estate properties, unable to compete with modern entertainment options.

The decline began with the rise of television and intensified with the internet and OTT platforms. Theater owners point to an “unreasonable” revenue-sharing arrangement with distributors as a major contributing factor. Currently, distributors often dictate terms that prioritize their profit, leaving exhibitors with little recourse, especially when films perform poorly.

While some owners have leased their theaters to bigger players, leading to renovations and a “multiplex feel,” others worry that this makes it harder for smaller, independent films to get screened. The cost of operating a single-screen theater is substantial, with daily expenses reaching ₹20,000 in major cities and monthly power and staff bills totaling lakhs.

Exhibitors are calling for a percentage-based revenue-sharing model, similar to that of multiplexes, and greater flexibility in setting ticket prices. They argue that fixed ticket prices, set by the government, and the high cost of blockbuster films, make it difficult for smaller movies to attract audiences.

The Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce has formed a 30-member committee to address these concerns, with a meeting scheduled for June 23-24 to find solutions agreeable to distributors, exhibitors, and producers. Following Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan’s emphasis on regulating cinema halls, there is hope for a positive outcome that will help revive single-screen theaters and preserve their cultural significance.

Despite their struggles, single-screen theaters continue to be a vital part of the Telugu film industry, accounting for a significant portion of box office revenue. Whether these cinemas can adapt and survive in the modern era remains to be seen.

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