BENGALURU: The Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy, headed by Rajendra Singh Babu, in its recommendations to the state government, has suggested that movie ticket prices at multiplexes be capped at Rs 120. The recommendations are for the proposed film industry policy of the state.
It also recommended screenings of Kannada movies on two screens at prime time. It also recommends that the Janatha theatres, which will exclusively screen Kannada movies, be given a grant of Rs 50 lakh for new ones and `25 lakh for refurbishing of old theatres. Simplification of procedures for issuing licence to Janatha theatres, miniplexes and multiplexes has also been suggested.
An increase of `5 exhibition tax on non-Kannada movies has also been recommended. The academy has recommended that this money be used for development of Kannada film industry. People who pirate Kannada movies should be booked under Goonda Act. For this purpose the Act may be further strengthened, it said.
It also suggested online ticket booking system for all theatres, increase in prize money for award-winning movies and individual awards to be conferred on movies made in regional languages like Kodava, Tulu, Beary, Banjara and Konkani, among others.
Director Yogish Dwarakish, however, felt that ticket pricing should be different for single screen theatres and multiplexes. “Individual theatre owners cannot give the same facilities as multiplexes owned by corporates. Single-screen exhibitors have been our backbone and we should support them. There should be a Rs 50 difference between single-screen and multiplexes tickets”, he felt.