Tollywood celebs are worried about the fake news and lousy content on YouTube channels targeting gullible film lovers.
The lousy content being posted on YouTube channels has become a cause of concern for the celebs in Tollywood. (Creative Commons)
Movie aficionados are waking up to garbage on YouTube these days. And yet the anchors unabashedly ask you to ring the bell icon, like, share and subscribe.
While the cooking videos and those on fitness are okay to watch, it is a complete waste of energy and time to track any stuff related to Telugu cinema on YouTube.
A few so-called journalists are serious about cashing in on the cinema addiction of the Telugu states and are unapologetic about posting damaging content. The gullible are believing whatever is being uploaded on the YouTube channels.
But there is also an educated segment that not only consumes the content, but also shares and discusses it.
The thumbnails of these videos are often misleading. But if you have been an avid watcher of these videos, by now you’ll know which video to avoid clicking.
Senior actor Vanisri. (Twitter)
A group of senior journalists during the pandemic became a source of entertainment for many senior citizens and movie lovers. They would happily answer questions about artists and celebrities who are no longer alive.
Senior actor Vanisri became the topic of a video made by a retired journalist who avidly spoke about her with great confidence and conviction.
When asked if she indeed knew the person, she clarified: “This gentleman would visit the studio. I happened to spot him in a corner having tea and tiffin, trying to strike up conversations with the people on the sets and hanging around for news.”
The veteran actor said she doesn’t remember anything beyond.
“There are character artists who give interviews. One of them talks about Savitri (another late veteran actor who was also the subject of YouTube video) as if she was staying in her house and she knew what was going on day in and day out. All that is humbug,” Vanisri told South First.
It isn’t just a few journalists or film critics who give out their opinion on any news or event that comes to mind that day; we have celebrities who run their channels to speak their minds. Director-producer Tammareddy Bharadwaja is one of them.
YouTube has become the main source of entertainment for movie lovers these days. (Creative Commons)
Similarly, actor Naga Babu uses his YouTube channel to refute allegations and counter-attack those who speak about his family in bad taste.
Often, certain YouTube channels approach directors who are seeking work to express their opinions on a celebrity as if the person knows the latter’s horoscope. Needless to say, these people are paid to talk.
Identity crisis and a “home tour” of celebrities are the core issues covered in most of these channels.
Surprisingly, few celebrities have qualms about showing their drawing rooms and bedrooms to the world. They don’t realise the fact that they are not flaunting their riches, but parting with their privacy to faceless viewers.
“There are some who think it is better to provide a clarification to a pesky scribe and end the nuisance once and for all,” Tammareddy Bharadwaja told South First.
YouTube is the only means of entertainment for many people these days because watching movies has become costlier. One needs to spend a lot in a cinema hall, whereas a data plan makes everything on the phone either feasible or free.
Director-producer Tammareddy Bharadwaj. (TammareddyB/Twitter)
So, why did he come up with his own YouTube channel? “When people approach me for an interview, I am supposed to give my point of view. But they want me to speak generously of a celebrity. Why would I do that,” Bharadwaja questioned.
He asserted that he would always speak his mind, be it right or wrong. He was getting decent revenue from the YouTube channels for a while. But the moment he stopped giving “catchy thumbnails”, the amount fell.
“YouTube is like a newspaper. Be it a statement or some opinion, it has to be made only at the right time. Otherwise, it loses its value. This is why I started my own channel in my name,” he quipped.
Tammareddy Bharadwaja also wondered why people who watch such videos don’t bother to comment.
“Why don’t they realise that they would be doing a great service by posting that the news is false? On the contrary, some people enjoy reading comments. Well, who doesn’t like trolls?”
A senior citizen, Ganga Prasad, told South First that he couldn’t stop himself from posting “I wish you die soon” in the comments when he saw a thumbnail of a video that declared a film star dead while he is still undergoing treatment in a hospital.
Producer Raj Kandukuri expressed serious concern that there are chances of people believing in the trash being spoken about. Also, if the person who is doing it has a digital following, then their word has value.
“Every person, irrespective of his economic status, has a mobile phone nowadays and is hooked to it. They tend to believe in what the YouTubers, particularly those with a huge digital following, say. This has serious implications. I wish people are more responsible, for it impacts society,” he told South First.
Veteran Telugu actor Sowcar Janaki. (Creative Commons)
Veteran actor Sowcar Janaki has, time and again, reiterated that people should check with her if what they are posting has been said by her.
“One person who claims to be a scribe says that I would compete with Savitri and I was jealous of her. What lies,” she recalled.
In another case, she pointed out a video where it was said that ANR wanted to sell his house to her and that she had asked him.
“It was so stupid. The thumbnails were nonsensical. These people talk as if they grew up with me. I only wish they speak intelligently and say something constructive,” she shrugged.
Raj Kandukuri said he never watches these YouTube channels because he has no time. Since he is from the industry, he knows if some news being circulated is true or not.
More so, he doesn’t bother to crosscheck if it is on YouTube or a television channel.
“People are now watching shorts or small reels. There are always suppliers for the demand created. As a producer, I’m concerned that there is a particular app available on mobile phones and people are making piracy rampant,” he pointed out.
Producer Raj Kandukuri. (IamRajKandukuri/Twitter)
Even as a film is released in the morning, its pirated version is being shared by evening.
“I am asking the producers not to hike movie ticket rates because this encourages people to watch illegal stuff. If reachability is distanced, the audience will look for other means,” Raj said.
Moreover, since there is no transparency on movie collections, the distributors declare some vague figures that lead to fan wars.
“The fans, in turn, create videos to declare that their hero’s film earned huge amounts. There is no end to this nonsense and, soon, filmmakers will opt to upload their movies on YouTube. The repercussions on the film industry will be huge,” he added.
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