Reel Raiders: Inside the ₹3,700 Crore Crisis Rocking Telugu Cinema

Image Source : NewsMeter

The Telugu film industry is confronting a silent but staggering threat—piracy. With estimated losses of ₹3,700 crore in 2024 alone, the damage now exceeds theatrical earnings, prompting a coordinated crackdown involving law enforcement, producers, and cybercrime units.

Arrest and Modus Operandi:

Hyderabad police arrested 29yearold AC technician Jana Kiran Kumar from Vanasthalipuram for leaking nearly 40 films including Single, Thandel, and Kannappa
Kumar recorded movies using a concealed smartphone and shared files via Telegram, receiving payments in Bitcoin later converted through platforms like ZebPay and CoinDCX

Industry Impact:

Over 3.7 crore pirated links were downloaded in 2024, with only half traceable
Rajkumar Akella, chairperson of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce’s antipiracy cell, confirmed the losses far exceed legitimate revenue

Legal and Enforcement Measures:

Offenses under the Copyright Act and Cinematograph Act can lead to imprisonment up to three years and fines exceeding ₹1 lakh
Courts have begun issuing restraining orders against rogue websites; over 150 individuals have been booked since 2024

Producer Response:

Actorproducer Vishnu Manchu revealed over 30,000 pirated links of Kannappa were taken down
Filmmakers like Bunny Vasu and Allu Aravind have raised concerns, though many avoid naming piracy sites to prevent unintended traffic spikes

Government Action:

Telangana has formed a special panel under the Film Development Corporation to combat piracy, with new regulations under review

Sources: The Hindu, Deccan Herald, The Hans India, Munsif Daily, NewsMeter, Times of India, Vaartha.com