Government hasn't given permission for cinema ticket price hike: Talasani

Hyderabad: The State government has not given permission to theatre owners in the city or elsewhere to increase ticket prices, according to Cinematography and Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav.

Speaking to media persons at Secretariat here on Wednesday, Srinivas Yadav said it came to the notice of the government that the owners of 79 theatres have increased the prices of tickets by taking permission from the High Court. The government did not give permission for that and will move the court on the tickets row, he said.

There was a report that some theatres increased ticket prices which was not right, he said. The State government is not willing to hike the cine ticket prices as it will hamper the interests of the people, who cannot watch films, the Minister maintained.

Though the issue of fixing rates for film tickets came to the notice of the government, no decision was taken yet, he said, adding that the State Cabinet has to take a decision on a committee report. "We do not favour hike in the ticket prices as the common man has to watch films", he maintained.

The Minister said he discussed the issue with the Home and Law secretaries and also Film Development Corporation. The government has to take a decision on the issue and not others, he clarified. There are reports that some cine theatres in the twin cities have increased the prices of tickets steeply just before the release of Mahesh Babu starrer "Maharshi" on May 9.

There are reports that single screen theatres have increased ticket price from Rs 80 to Rs 110, multiplexes by Rs 50 from Rs 110 and in Prasad's theatre it was increased to Rs 200 from Rs 138 per ticket.