Ticket prices: Kollywood waiting with bated breath

Cinemas to work out pricing strategy and open bookings only after going through final government order

Some theatre owners say they will decide on ticket pricing based on the footfall over the next few week

Theatres and multiplexes across the State have said that they would open ticket bookings for Deepavali only after reading the final government order, which they expect to be issued on Monday.

On Saturday, stakeholders from the theatre and multiplex industry had a closed-door meeting presided over by Abirami Ramanathan, president of the Tamil Nadu Cinema Theatre Owners Federation.

A theatre owner, who was present at the meeting, said Mr. Ramanathan started the meeting saying that they should move forward as a unified industry and be focussed. “He also made a mention that no one should sell movie tickets above the ‘C’ form rates,” he added.

Five persons from the theatre industry to whom

The Hindu spoke expressed concern that they should have been consulted on the five-point proposal made by actor Vishal, general secretary of Nadigar Sangam and president, Tamil Film Producers Council. Raising several issues, the actor-cum-producer had said that no cinema exhibitor could sell tickets above the government scheduled rates and food products should be sold only on MRP. Mr. Ramanathan said theatres should have been consulted and a joint decision taken. “The producers’ council should have consulted us before taking these decisions,” he said, adding that both theatres and producers were dependent on each other when it comes to business.

Theatres and multiplexes are working on the final pricing they want to fix on Monday. The CFO of a city-based theatre said, “We are working on the pricing strategy. But we can arrive at a conclusion only after seeing the final GO. But as of now, we have decided not to increase our ticket price. We will see the footfall for the next three weeks and then make the changes,” he said.

The managing director of a multiplex said, “Every multiplex and theatre will decide their own way of doing this based on their audience and their business potential. But leaving the price at ₹120 itself defeats the whole purpose of getting the ticket rate increase from government.”

Blockbuster opening

However, city-based theatre Rohini Silver Screen opened their counters for actor Vijay’s upcoming film Mersal , which is slated for release for Deepavali. “We have had a blockbuster opening with the bookings. The tickets for first two days were sold within few minutes,” Nikilesh Surya, executive director of Rohini Silver Screens said. “As we talk, tickets for the third day are being sold,” he added.

Sources in Thenandal Studios Limited said the movie would be released for Deepavali. Clearance from the Censor Board is pending as the Animal Welfare Board of India has not granted approval, sources said.

(With inputs from Udhav Naig)