How much is too much for a film ticket?

Will the Telangana government allow premiere shows with increased ticket prices for big-budget films? Industry seeks clarity.

In the aftermath of the overcrowding incident at Sandhya Theatre, Hyderabad, on December 4 in which a 35-year-old woman lost her life and her son is being treated in a hospital, a question that continues to crop up is whether the state government of Telangana will grant permission for premiere shows with hiked up ticket prices soon. Post the incident during a premier show of Pushpa 2: The Rule, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, minister for cinematography, Government of Telangana, reportedly stated that permissions will not be given for early ‘benefit’ or premiere shows and that there will be a rethink on increased ticket rates.

Representatives of the film industry are likely to approach the state government seeking permission for premieres ahead of the big budget Sankranti 2025 releases — Game Changer, Daaku Maharaaj and Sankranti ki Vasthunnam. 

The trend of getting the Telangana state government’s nod to increase ticket prices in the opening week for big budget films in Telangana gathered momentum with SS Rajamouli’s RRR. A ticket at a multiplex in Hyderabad for the first three days cost more than ₹400. At single screens, tickets cost around ₹230 each. 

In the pre-pandemic years, a multiplex ticket in Hyderabad cost between ₹150 and ₹175, and an IMAX/large screen ticket cost ₹225 to ₹250. In December 2021, in response to requests from Telugu film industry representatives, distributors and exhibitors, the State government fixed the minimum ticket price at ₹50 and the maximum at ₹150 (excluding GST) for air-conditioned theatres. Multiplexes were allowed to charge a maximum of ₹250 (excluding GST).

Post RRR, big-budget films such as Acharya, Salaar Part 1: Ceasefire, Kalki 2898 AD and Devara: Part 1 were granted permission to hike ticket prices during the opening week. While the clamour for tickets for big-budget films with A-list stars prevailed, industry observers have been concerned over dwindling footfalls for other films. 

In 2024, more than 240 Telugu films were released in theatres by mid-December. Among these, only a dozen films turned out to be box office winners. 

Over the years, the diminishing success rate has often been a talking point, with different stakeholders in the film industry — directors, writers, producers and actors to distributors and exhibitors — reiterating the importance of engaging narratives and smart marketing. The hike in ticket prices has become another factor for concern.