Devara tickets are being sold on the black market. Despite the shift towards online bookings, the midnight 1 AM shows at some single-screen theaters were fully blocked, and tickets are being resold for prices ranging from â¹1,000 to â¹2,500 each, through personal connections, depending on demand.
This income will not generate any tax revenue for the government, as taxes are only paid on the official ticket price. An amount ranging from â¹700 to â¹2,200 per ticket is going unreported as black income.
If the government allows this to continue, what is the point of requests from filmmakers and the government orders (GOs) related to ticket pricing? It's a major concern why the government is not taking action, even though black ticketing is happening so openly.
Some single-screen theatres briefly listed on BookMyShow were later removed from the portal after seats for the 1 AM shows were blocked to sell tickets at inflated prices.
If this practice is encouraged, it could become a standard approach for all. Additionally, apart from ticket sales, items like samosas and cool drinks sold at single-screen theatres are often sold only for cash. These theatres typically do not accept digital payments such as PhonePe, Google Pay, or credit/debit cards. The question remains: who will address this issue?
Another concern is that if tickets are not available online, fans may gather at the theatres, hoping someone will sell them a ticket. At 1 AM, many may arrive after consuming alcohol, and if they are unable to get tickets, frustration could lead to unruly behavior, creating potential law and order problems. If the government doesn't take preventive measures, this could result in significant disruptions and unexpected events.
Already, a law and order issue occurred at the film’s pre-release event. If the government does not act proactively, further incidents could lead to potential mishaps.