Strict measures to curb film piracy: Telangana government to form committee under FDC
Hyderabad: The Telangana government is taking firm steps to tackle piracy in the film industry, said Film Development Corporation (FDC) Chairman Dil Raju. He was addressing a press conference at the FDC boardroom in Masab Tank on Thursday, along with FDC Managing Director Ch. Priyanka.
Dil Raju stated that, following directions from the Chief Minister, multiple meetings have already been held with the Deputy Chief Minister to address key concerns of the film industry. A detailed action plan is being prepared, and new regulations will be introduced if necessary.
The FDC will act as the nodal agency in this effort. A special committee will be formed with representatives from the Film Chamber of Commerce, Cyber Cell, and Police Department. This committee will oversee the implementation of anti-piracy measures and monitor the online permission system for film shootings.
Reaffirming the government’s support to the film industry, Dil Raju called on all stakeholders to work together to protect and develop the sector. FDC Managing Director Ch. Priyanka said the issue of accreditation for film journalists is under review and a decision will be taken soon based on feasibility. She added that all concerns raised by stakeholders will be addressed with urgency.
Meanwhile, the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police recently arrested a 29-year-old man in connection with a major piracy racket involving the illegal recording and distribution of Telugu films, including the recent release #Single, which was leaked online on the day of its theatrical debut, May 9, 2025.
The accused, Jana Kiran Kumar, an air conditioning technician from Vanasthalipuram in Ranga Reddy district and a native of East Godavari, was arrested following a complaint filed by Yarra Manindra Babu, representing the Anti-Video Piracy Cell of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC).
The complaint noted that pirated versions of #Single had surfaced online within hours of release on known piracy websites including 1TamilBlasters, 5MoviezRulz, and 1TamilMV. A forensic watermarking analysis confirmed that the leak originated from a theater copy.
During the investigation, police found that Jana Kiran Kumar had approached the piracy group 1TamilMV after spotting a meme advertising recruitment. He contacted them via Proton Mail and later switched to Telegram to avoid detection. He agreed to record new Telugu film releases and was paid between USD 300 to 400 per film in cryptocurrency, which he converted to rupees using platforms such as ZebPay and CoinDCX.
Kumar booked movie tickets online and used his mobile phone, concealed in his shirt pocket, to record films in local theaters. He then uploaded the footage and shared the links with handlers on Telegram. Over 18 months, he allegedly leaked around 40 films, including Pellikani Prasad, 14 Days Love, Thandel, Game On, Kismat, Rajadhani Files, and #Single. According to the TFCC, piracy cost the Telugu film industry approximately ₹3,700 crore in 2024.
