An Analysis of the Impact of Movie Piracy on the Film Industry: A Case Study of "Malligadu" on Moviezwap

Furthermore, the existence of such piracy sites stifles the growth of regional cinema. If films like “Malligadu” cannot guarantee a return on investment because of free leaks on Moviezwap, financiers become reluctant to back similar projects. This leads to a homogenization of content—studios may only fund safe, big-star vehicles, while experimental or small-town stories lose their chance to be told. Ironically, the very audience that seeks out “Malligadu” for free may inadvertently kill the genre they enjoy.

This study has some limitations. The sample size is limited to 100 moviegoers, and the study focuses on a single movie. Future studies can expand on this research by examining a larger sample size and multiple movies.

The Indian film industry, particularly the Telugu cinema sector (Tollywood), has seen a massive surge in global viewership over the last decade. With blockbusters like RRR , Baahubali , and Pushpa gaining international acclaim, the appetite for regional content is higher than ever. However, this popularity has a dark side: piracy. One of the most searched keywords linking a specific film to illegal distribution is