Telangana Government Reverts to Regular Pricing
The Telangana Government has officially cancelled the special ticket hike permissions for Pawan Kalyan's film OG, following a directive from the Telangana High Court. The court ordered cinema halls to revert to collecting original ticket rates fixed by the government's 2021 order. The decision comes after a writ petition challenged the hike, filed by lawyer Mallesh Yadav. As a result, single screens and multiplexes across the state will remove special hikes for OG tickets with immediate effect.
The film's producers had initially received permission to increase ticket prices, with premiere tickets priced at Rs 800 and regular releases allowing for an additional Rs 100 in single screens and Rs 150 in multiplexes. However, the High Court suspended the enhanced rates, citing that only the Hyderabad Police Commissioner and Joint Collectors in district jurisdictions can issue such orders. Existing regulations prohibit selling tickets at inflated prices.
Impact on OG's Box Office Performance
Despite the sudden move, cancelling the ticket hike might actually benefit OG in the long run. With the weekend rush now over, regular pricing could help maintain steady footfall during weekdays. The film's collections may see a boost from increased audience turnout due to lower ticket prices. OG's box office performance will likely be closely watched in the coming days, especially with new releases imminent.
The new ticket prices for OG in Telangana are expected to be around Rs 175 at single screens and Rs 295 at multiplexes. Theaters will need to comply with the court's order and adjust their ticket prices accordingly. The court's decision has sparked discussions about the future of ticket price hikes for films in Telangana.