JOIN USThe government on Tuesday fixed a price ceiling for movie tickets at Rs 200. The order covers multiplexes and single screens across the state.
The introduction of uniform ticket pricing is viewed as a milestone, and is expected to help the Kannada film industry in the long run. According to the notification, the maximum a hall can charge for admission is Rs 200, excluding tax.
The government now collects 33% as entertainment tax on movie tickets. The tax is applicable to films of all languages screened in Karnataka.
Gold class exempted
The ceiling does not apply to ‘gold class’ screens and seats in multiplexes. ‘Gold class’ refers to luxury seats for which multiplexes charge a high premium.
Theatres with IMAX (widescreen cinematography producing images about 10 times larger than standard 35 mm) and 4DS (technology allowing a film to be augmented with environmental effects such as seat motion, wind, rain, fog, lights, and scents) also enjoy exemption from the capping. These technologies are used mainly to produce science fiction and animated films, and are not used by the Kannada film industry.
‘Gold class’ seats should not exceed 10% of the total capacity in a hall, Tuesday’s notification says. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had announced the ceiling proposal in March in the budget for 2017-18.
The government amended the Karnataka Cinemas (Regulation) Act to implement the ceiling and mandatory prime-time screening for Kannada films. Multiplexes said they had not received the order till late on Tuesday. They said they did not intend to contest the order in court.
A supervisor at Cinepolis multiplex said, “The question of refunds doesn’t arise as multiplexes take online bookings only till Wednesday, when rates are low in any case. The decision will result in high occupancy. The audience can now choose from any language, since Kannada will not enjoy a ticket-price advantage. Only good films in Kannada will benefit. We expect most halls to be full henceforth.”
Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce president Sa Ra Govindu said, “The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce welcomes the decision. A long-pending demand has been met. The decision will boost the prospects of the Kannada film industry and end daylight robbery by multiplexes.”
While disposing of a petition between Multiplexes’ Association and Marathi Films Association in Maharashtra, the Supreme Court had observed that the state government is the competent authority to control the rate of admissions in multiplexes.
The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) had submitted documents of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala to the government on how those governments had fixed prices in multiplexes. The government studied the Supreme Court order and the documents, used its discretionary power and fixed Rs 200 as maximum price in Karnataka. There are 90 multiplex screens and 650 single screen theatres across the state. Exhibitors spend huge sums and screen out-of-state films in Karnataka. About 275 outside state movies are screened in multiplexes a year, while Rs 2,000 crore revenue earned in ticket sales in Karnataka enters other states.
DH News Service
Prime time for Kannada films
The government order on Tuesday also stipulates that multiplexes screen films in Kannada during prime time, with shows starting at 1.30 pm, 4.30 pm and 7.30 pm. The order also covers the regional languages of Karnataka. Multiplexes were earlier showing Kannada in the morning slot, which many film buffs found inconvenient.
CM feels the pinch
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday watched Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, buying Gold Class tickets at PVR Orion. He wanted to find out for himself whether the claims of high pricing was true, a source said. Siddaramaiah was convinced the multiplexes were making a killing, and immediately passed the order against high ticket rates, the source said.