Sankranti: Will Congress government go the AP way with U-turn on movie ticket prices?

Will make an appeal to Telangana government to permit ticket price hikes, says Telangana Film Development Corporation Chairman Dil Raju

HYDERABAD: With the Andhra Pradesh government permitting movie ticket price hikes and benefit shows for a few big budget movies this Sankranti season, all eyes are on the Telangana government, to see whether it will follow suit.

This is the big debate among different sections, including the film industry in the State. Amidst these discussions, film producers and exhibitors are keeping their fingers crossed. After the stampede at Sandhya Theatre during ‘Pushpa 2’ premier show, the Telangana government had announced that no ticket hikes and benefit shows would be permitted in the State. Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy had specifically made this announcement in the Assembly.

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Meanwhile, a few big budget movies are slated for release this Sankranti season. There has been stiff opposition from a few Ministers, MLAs and elected public representatives in the State over benefit shows and ticket prices hikes. Following suit, a couple of MLAs from Andhra Pradesh had also raised similar objections. However, the Andhra Pradesh government has now permitted movie ticket price hikes.

Ram Charan-starrer ‘Game Changer’ is produced by Dil Raju, who is also Chairman of the Telangana Film Development Corporation. The film is scheduled to release on Friday. When asked about the possibilities of Telangana government permitting ticket hikes, he said an appeal would definitely be made to the government.

“I will personally meet Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and make an appeal,” Dil Raju said.

At the same time, he also courted controversy, when he said that unlike in Andhra Pradesh, people in Telangana were more ‘crazy’ for toddy and mutton than movies. He made these comments during the ‘Sankrantiki Vastunam’ promotional event held at Nizamabad on Monday. The film is produced by Dil Raju and Shirish.

In response to a question by the anchor over a lukewarm response to the event, Dil Raju said: “For our (Telangana) people, movies are not the favourite and the reaction invariably will be less. I informed the same to the film director. In Andhra, people give a vibe to cinema but here toddy and mutton are given a vibe.”

However, his comments did not go well with people from different sections and many opined that they were made in cheap taste. A few people on social media have also demanded that his movie should be boycotted in Telangana.