It has become a practice for makers of big-ticket films to approach the governments seeking permission for screening of additional shows in theatres and enhancement of ticket prices in the first one week of release of the film.
In the past, both the Telugu state governments granted such permissions to the films of big stars so that the producers could make quick money and recover their production costs within one week, before any negative talk about the film spreads in the market.
The makers of Vakeel Saab, the latest film of power star Pawan Kalyan to be released on Friday, also made a similar attempt, approaching the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments asking for permission for additional shows and enhancement of ticket prices in the first few days.
But they received a rude shock from the Andhra Pradesh government.
According to sources, the government has flatly turned down the request for additional shows in the name of benefit shows and midnight shows and also enhancement of ticket rates.
The government is expected to issue a circular stating that the number of shows would be confined to only four as was the case in the past and that there would be no change in the ticket prices.
An order issued by East Godavari collector, addressing managements of various cinema theatres in the district, said it was withdrawing an earlier circular issued on April 3 for screening additional shows and enhancement of ticket prices.
Quoting an high court order, the collector said he was rejecting the representations of the managements of the cinema theatres for screening of additional shows and increasing the ticket rates for two weeks.
“All Divisional Officers and Tahsildars are directed to see that the ticket prices of the newly released movies are not hiked by the theatre management under the guise of earlier memo issued,” the order said.
This has come as big shock for Vakeel Saab makers.
“In the past, there were instances of Pawan’s films like Agnyathavasi collecting Rs 1,000 per ticket in the name of midnight shows and Rs 500-Rs 600 per ticket towards benefit shows. This time, no such permission is being given,” sources said.
Well, it will be very much hurting for the fans of Pawan Kalyan, but for an average film goer, it is a welcome decision!