The Telangana government, on Wednesday, granted permission for theatres across the state to run a special fifth show for the film Bheemla Nayak, featuring actors Pawan Kalyan and Rana Daggubati.
Bheemla Nayak, the official Telugu remake of the hit Malayalam film Ayyappanum Koshiyum, is due to hit the big screens on Friday.
The government order issued on Wednesday stated that permission for the special screening of a fifth daily show, in addition to the regular four shows, was granted for Bheemla Nayak from Friday (February 25) to March 11. The order came after a request for the same from producer Dil Raju of Sri Venkateswara Films. Dil Raju is a distributor for Bheemla Nayak.
It is to be noted that the next big Telugu film, Radhe Shyam, is scheduled to hit the screens on March 11.
“The above permission is granted temporarily subject to payment of entertainment tax to the government on usual terms and conditions, with necessary changes in B-Form license temporarily, so as to avoid heavy rush, black marketing of tickets, and law and order problem,” the order further said.
Earlier, in December, the Telangana High Court passed an interim order allowing theatres to increase the ticket prices for Bheemla Nayak and Radhe Shyam as well as some other big films, such as RRR, Pushpa, and Akhanda.
Thus, Bheemla Nayak will release in the state with the double advantage of higher ticket prices and additional shows.
Meanwhile, in the other Telugu-speaking state, Andhra Pradesh, it has received no such concessions. Theatres in AP are still subject to the government-ordered capping of ticket prices and have no permission to run additional shows.
However, theatres in both the states are allowed to function at full capacity.
Speaking to Silverscreen India, Anupam Reddy, secretary of the Telangana State Film Chamber of Commerce, says, “The shows for Bheemla Nayak will start as early as 7 am in the morning. The pre-booking has been very brisk and within a couple of hours, the tickets are getting sold out. Valimai and Gangubai will take a backseat in the Telugu-speaking states from Friday, and Bheemla Nayak, being a Telugu film, will get precedence.”
Reddy also mentions that in Telangana’s single screen theatres, tickets are being sold for up to Rs 175 (including GST), while multiplexes are charging as much as Rs 295.
In Andhra Pradesh, on the other hand, single-screen tickets are capped at Rs 50-100 and multiplexes at Rs 150.
It is notable that in early February, some bigwigs from the Telugu film industry had met AP Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy to discuss the ongoing tussle over the pricing of cinema tickets and other issues. Addressing the media post the meeting, they had said that the CM had responded positively and that they expected a favourable order by the end of February.
Recommended
No such order has been forthcoming as yet and Anupam Reddy opines that it could have been delayed by the sudden demise of Minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy and the resultant mourning period.
It is also to be noted that Pawan Kalyan has, at various instances, lashed out the AP government for harassing the film industry.
Bheemla Nayak is directed by Saagar K Chandra, with dialogues and screenplay by Trivikram. The film is backed by Suryadevara Naga Vamsi under Sithara Entertainments banner.