In the Telugu film industry, writers are paid chronically low amounts as remuneration. That's why most of them become directors in a hurry so that they can earn money in crores by making successful movies. It is another matter that they end up making just one (if at all) box-office hit. They struggle to deliver hits for the rest of their careers. That's because their forte is writing, not filmmaking.
In a recent video, a YouTuber claimed that many young writers from Tollywood often tell him that they are paid peanuts. They are provided with lodging facilities by the producer/director. And the rooms they live in during the screenwriting phase are somewhat unliveable. The writers stay put in such unpalatable rooms or 1 BHKs for months. At the end of the day, they are paid an extremely unremunerative fee for their services. In this scenario, how can you expect them to deliver quality scripts? They are not motivated enough.
Among Telugu film directors, the talk goes, only Sukumar pays his writers well. A lot of other filmmakers are not interested even in giving credits to their writers. They are insecure and, probably, mean-minded.
There was a time when the Salim-Javed duo in Bollywood were paid one lakh rupees more than Amitabh Bachchan. If Big B's remuneration was Rs 20 lakh, the Salim-Javed duo were paid Rs 21 lakh. So, two of the biggest writers were receiving more than what the biggest star in the country used to receive per film!
Such a thing is unthinkable in today's times. Even heroines who are barely seen in songs are paid in crores. While writers have no luck.
