BENGALURU: Bengaluru has one of the highest rates of admission when it comes to multiplexes. Movie ticket prices in neighbouring Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are regulated with a cap on the price. But now with the state government order on the cap of tickets expected on Thursday, movie-goers can smile.
Lack of concrete rules on ticket rates that single theatres or multiplexes could levy seems to have led to these theatres charging exorbitant rates.
While the single screen theatres were slow to pick up on this trend, multiplexes which promised a luxurious watching experience made sure that consumers paid through their nose for the tickets and the accompanying food and beverages.
Some theatres upgraded their sound and seating systems and upped their prices, but even today they are no match for what is being charged by the multiplex theatres.
Neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh already charge Rs 200 per ticket everywhere. According to distributor Sudhir, it is not all above board. “Many places do sell the tickets at Rs 200, but the buyers take the tickets in bulk and sell them at higher rates,” he said.
Sudhir said this was the reason why single theatres in Bengaluru started charging Rs 600 per ticket. They wanted to avoid losing out to the black market and hence decided to hike the prices themselves. However, this is only for the first couple of days for popular films,” he says. Like their counterparts in the neighbouring states, theatre owners in Karnataka have to figure out how to stop the tickets being sold outside for higher rates.
Will order be issued today?
Although multiplexes have claimed they have not opened advance booking for Baahubali-2 in view of the order being issued by the government, there are doubts being expressed about it.
Bulk bookings have been made at some multiplexes and tickets are likely to be issued on Thursday. However, no rate has been fixed for these tickets. Film industry insiders say there is no guarantee that the order will be issued on Thursday and might be pushed to Monday. This might allow the theatres and multiplexes to encash on the huge rush for Baahubali-2.