Telangana Government Fixes Cinema Ticket Prices

The Telangana Home Department has issued new guidelines to regulate and standardise cinema ticket prices across the state. Theatres will be classified into different categories based on facilities and infrastructure, while separate provisions have been introduced for increasing ticket prices of high-budget films. The orders, issued on August 14 and brought to public attention on Wednesday, were based on requests from film producers seeking both ticket-price regulation and permission for higher rates for expensive productions. The government has also proposed a committee, headed by the District Collector or Police Commissioner, to identify single-screen theatres that offer facilities comparable to multiplexes, including digital sound systems, 2K/4K projection and high-quality seating.

Under the new guidelines, films made with a budget exceeding ₹100 crore and meeting specified standards will be classified as “super high-budget films”. Such films can have enhanced ticket prices for 10 days from their first theatrical release, subject to the prescribed conditions. Producers must initially deposit ₹1 crore into the Telugu Cinema Industry Welfare Committee account, with the funds intended for the welfare of cinema workers. The committee will include representatives from the Telugu Film Development Corporation, Labour Department, Producers’ Guild, Exhibitors’ Union and workers’ union. The government has also mandated that at least one show between 11 am and 9 pm be allocated to small-budget films, including on festival days, to support smaller productions. The revised rates are exclusive of GST, while maintenance charges of ₹5 for AC theatres and ₹3 for air-cooled theatres are included. All theatres must reserve 25% of their seats under the non-premium category, and air-cooled theatres have been directed to convert to AC facilities within two years.