Pushpa-2, releasing on December 5, has fans eagerly anticipating its arrival, but enjoying it in theaters might weigh heavily on family budgets.
Ticket prices have soared to unprecedented levels, marking a historic milestone for Telugu cinema.
A benefit show scheduled for December 4 at 9:30 PM across all theaters in Telangana comes with a flat Rs. 800 hike. Special permissions have also been granted for midnight and 4 AM shows on December 5, further fueling the excitement.
For regular screenings, ticket prices reflect significant hikes. In single screens, rates will rise by Rs. 150 during the opening weekend (December 5–8), Rs. 105 from December 9 to 16, and Rs. 20 from December 17 to 23.
Multiplexes see even steeper increases, with hikes of Rs. 200 for the first weekend, Rs. 150 for the following week, and Rs. 50 for the third week. GST is applied on top of these rates, making the cost even higher.
A family of four watching the movie in a multiplex during the opening weekend would spend over Rs. 2000 on tickets alone or Rs. 3500 with snacks. Single-screen tickets cost slightly less, around Rs. 1500 for a family.
Affordable ticket prices resume only on December 24, making the OTT release an appealing alternative for budget-conscious viewers.
If this is the case with ticket price hikes, why should the government control ticket prices through a Government Order, especially with requests from people in the film industry?
They can leave the decision on ticket prices to the producers, including decisions about midnight shows, as is done in Karnataka, where they tag their desired prices ranging up to Rs 2000 or more depending on demand and decrease accordingly.
Instead of fueling rumors that the government is biased toward certain heroes, it is better to leave the pricing decisions to the producers.
Alternatively, the government could adopt the Tamil Nadu model, where all films—big or small—are sold at fixed ticket prices, regardless of budget. This approach would eliminate the need for requests and provide clarity on pricing.
