CHENNAI: The Baahubali fever has the nation in a trance. Theatre sites are crashing, tickets are being sold at astronomical prices, corporate organisations are in a mad scramble to be the first to take their employees to the film… As Ravi Shastri would say, “It’s all happening.”
Among those theatres whose sites crashed is Chennai-based Jazz Cinemas, the city’s only IMAX theatre. “But we realised it quite quickly and had the site running in no time,” says Karthi Thirusangu, Head of Marketing and Sales, Jazz Cinemas. The theatre, is only playing the Telugu version, as “there’s no Tamil IMAX version.”
In Bengaluru, there is doubt over the implementation of a new rule concerning a cap on ticket prices, but it appears that it will come into force only next week. Single-screens and multiplexes in Bengaluru are cashing in on this delay, as tickets for the first two days are being sold for upwards of Rs 1,000.
The situation in Hyderabad, however, seems starkly different, as one movie-goer revealed that tickets are sold as high as Rs 5,000. With corporates showing interest in bulk booking, it has become impossible for an average fan to book tickets online. Similar issues of unavailability plague Kerala too, even though a record-breaking 1,150 shows have been scheduled.
The murder motive the nation awaited holding its breath for the last two years, will unfold today. Social media will go crazy over whether Kattappa’s reason to kill Baahubali is justifiable enough. With no ounce of patience left, it seems everyone around has been busy booking theatre tickets for the country’s biggest movie.
Among those theatres whose sites crashed is Chennai-based Jazz Cinemas, the city’s only IMAX theatre. “But we realised it quite quickly and had the site running in no time,” says Karthi Thirusangu, Head of Marketing and Sales, Jazz Cinemas. The theatre, interestingly, is only playing the Telugu version of the film, as “there’s no Tamil IMAX version.” It has also resisted the temptation of allocating all its shows for the Rajamouli film (The Fate of the Furious has survived Baahubali) and Karthi says that’s because “we didn’t want to let down distributors of other films.”
Bengaluru multiplexes haven’t been so kind to last week’s releases though, as all films, including Kannada ones have been ushered out. It is to be remembered that until actor Sathyaraj proffered his apology, the release of the film itself was in doubt in the State. The President of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, Sa Ra Govindu, however, is adamant that Kannada films will not suffer. “We are doing our best to make sure that the Kannada films aren’t taken off. The only ones removed are those that haven’t been getting good collections,” he says.
There is also doubt over the implementation of a new rule in Bengaluru concerning a cap on ticket prices, but it appears that it will come into force only next week. The Principal Secretary – Information Department, M Lakshminarayan, blames it on process delays. “The file is stuck now with the Finance department. If it were with me, I would approve it immediately,” he says. Theatres in Bengaluru are cashing in on this delay, as tickets for the first two days are being sold for upwards of Rs 1,000.
N R Sudhir, a Karnataka distributor, doesn’t read much into it. “It’s just the first-day craze,” he says. “By the third day, normal prices will kick in.” On the eve of the film’s release, all tickets for the 148 shows in the city were reportedly sold out.
The ground situation in Hyderabad, however, seems starkly different, as one movie-goer under condition of anonymity revealed that tickets are selling for as high as Rs 5,000. With corporate organisations like KIMS Hospital wanting bulk booking, it has become impossible for an average fan to book tickets online. Issues of unavailability plague Kerala too, even though a record-breaking 1,150 shows across almost 300 screens are scheduled.
Baahubali is also a phenomenon in interior cities. Impala Multiplex in Madurai has upgraded its theatre to Dolby Atmos sound system, and the latest 4K Sony Technology to prepare for Rajamouli’s film. “Baahubali is a story about kings,” says Mani Varma, the owner of the multiplex. “It’s a perfect film for a city like Madurai which is steeped in such history.”
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