Giving a reason to cheer for movie buffs in Karnataka, a committee formed by the Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy has recommended to the state government that movie ticket prices in multiplexes in the state be capped at a maximum of Rs. 120. This The draft policy was submitted by a 14-member committee, headed by S.V. Rajendra Singh Babu, Chairperson of the academy, to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The recommendation also includes a suggestion that multiplexes must have two prime time shows of Kannada films on two screens every day.
If these recommendations are implemented on the lines of Tamil Nadu’s cap on movie ticket prices, it would bring relief to movie goers who are made to shell out around Rs. 300 per ticket.
“These two recommendations are also based on a survey report, titled Kannada Film Industry: Challenges and the Way Forward by T.A. Pai Management Institute. The Kannada film industry recently launched an online campaign over both these demands,” SV Rajendra Singh Babu, was quoted as saying by the Hindu.
Moreover, the draft policy has recommended a subsidy of Rs. 50 lakh for ‘janata chitra mandiras’, on the lines of Amma Theatres in Tamil Nadu, to make cinema viewing affordable. The report stated that Kannada films were suffering due to dominance of other language films, and suggested that the government offer a subsidy of Rs. 25 lakh for renovation of old theatres, given it should be made mandatory that they screen Kannada films.
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A cap on ticket prices will see an increase in footfall at multiplexes which see only about 30-50% occupancy. A few years ago, many multiplexes started a trend where ticket prices would be 50% cheaper on Wednesdays. In March 2016, an online petition was started on Change.org by filmmaker Dayal Padmanabhan urging the Karnataka government to cap the multiplex price at Rs. 120. The petition got over 7,300 signatures in 24 hours. Kannada actors like Rakshit Shetty, Harripriya and Sanjana supported the campaign.
Feature Image courtesy : hibengaluru.com