<p>Critics, industry experts and film buffs have welcomed the Karnataka government’s move to cap movie ticket prices at Rs 200. </p>.<p>Senior journalist and film critic S Viswanath believes it will “democratise movie watching”. It will also bring back the ‘transit crowd’ to theatres. “Earlier, travellers with a few hours to kill before their journey would spend time at the movies,” he explains, adding that it will also draw fans who were forced to watch films on their phones owing to exorbitant ticket prices. He hopes the government will implement the measure and not give in to the muscle and money power of the multiplex owners.</p>.<p>“It encourages the culture of watching movies at theatres. Filmmakers are struggling to get people into theatres these days. If each ticket is priced between Rs 300 and Rs 400, it adds up to a huge sum for a family and limits the number of movies they can watch in a month,” says director Sindhu Sreenivasa Murthy of ‘Achar & Co’ fame.</p>.<p>Even if a film is bad, audiences will not feel the pinch if the tickets are easier on the pocket. However, pricey tickets make audiences think twice about watching a film in the theatre, she notes.</p>.<p>Exploitation is at its peak when it’s the release of an A-lister’s movie. Film critic and curator Harish Mallya recalls paying Rs 2,000 at a theatre on M G Road to watch the Telugu film ‘RRR’. “This move will keep everyone in check. Middle class audiences and bigger families may now find it more affordable to watch movies on the first day of their release,” he adds. </p>.<p>M Narasimhalu, president of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), says the price cap will bring back a section of society to theatres. “It looks like people have forgotten about cinema halls. But with this move, 10,000 people will be buying tickets, instead of 1,000. So revenue will not be affected.”</p>.<p>“We want to see the board ‘chitramandira tumbide’ (the cinema hall is full), again,” says Narasimhalu, who also owns Vaishnavi Vaibhavi single-screen theatre in Uttarahalli. </p>.<p><strong>Are cheaper tickets enough?</strong></p>.<p>IT professional Anil believes that “a bad film cannot be sold — not even for free”. </p>.<p>“If audiences have to be brought back to the theatres, the focus must shift to building trust through compelling, high-quality storytelling. Today, viewers have access to films from around the world on their phones — they won’t step out just because tickets are cheaper. Watching a film in theatres also means spending time and money. The experience should feel worthy of the effort,” he says. </p>.<p>Although OTT has given tough competition to movie theatres, Narasimhalu believes high ticket prices is one of the biggest reasons audiences don’t go to theatres anymore. “If we try to address that problem first and audiences return to theatres, we can focus on the other problems,” he explains. </p>.<p><strong>Multiplexes will suffer</strong></p>.<p>“With the revenue being restricted, the biggest loser will perhaps be the multiplex chain PVR-INOX,” says trade analyst Narendra Gupta. “PVR-INOX has over 200 properties in Karnataka and they will suffer badly,” he adds. </p>.<p>Mallya points out that multiplexes make their profits on food and beverages. “They hardly make any money on the tickets unless it’s a big release,” he explains.</p>.<p>However, he believes tickets for IMAX and 4DX projection should be priced higher — in line with the investment cost. Sindhu too has a similar opinion. “That way they can perhaps makeup for what they’re losing in 2D projection,” she said.</p>.<p><strong>In 15 days? </strong></p>.<p>Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had earlier announced the move in the 2025-26 state budget. The Rs 200 cap will also include entertainment tax according to the draft. It is expected to be implemented within 15 days provided there are no objections from any party.</p>
<p>Critics, industry experts and film buffs have welcomed the Karnataka government’s move to cap movie ticket prices at Rs 200. </p>.<p>Senior journalist and film critic S Viswanath believes it will “democratise movie watching”. It will also bring back the ‘transit crowd’ to theatres. “Earlier, travellers with a few hours to kill before their journey would spend time at the movies,” he explains, adding that it will also draw fans who were forced to watch films on their phones owing to exorbitant ticket prices. He hopes the government will implement the measure and not give in to the muscle and money power of the multiplex owners.</p>.<p>“It encourages the culture of watching movies at theatres. Filmmakers are struggling to get people into theatres these days. If each ticket is priced between Rs 300 and Rs 400, it adds up to a huge sum for a family and limits the number of movies they can watch in a month,” says director Sindhu Sreenivasa Murthy of ‘Achar & Co’ fame.</p>.<p>Even if a film is bad, audiences will not feel the pinch if the tickets are easier on the pocket. However, pricey tickets make audiences think twice about watching a film in the theatre, she notes.</p>.<p>Exploitation is at its peak when it’s the release of an A-lister’s movie. Film critic and curator Harish Mallya recalls paying Rs 2,000 at a theatre on M G Road to watch the Telugu film ‘RRR’. “This move will keep everyone in check. Middle class audiences and bigger families may now find it more affordable to watch movies on the first day of their release,” he adds. </p>.<p>M Narasimhalu, president of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), says the price cap will bring back a section of society to theatres. “It looks like people have forgotten about cinema halls. But with this move, 10,000 people will be buying tickets, instead of 1,000. So revenue will not be affected.”</p>.<p>“We want to see the board ‘chitramandira tumbide’ (the cinema hall is full), again,” says Narasimhalu, who also owns Vaishnavi Vaibhavi single-screen theatre in Uttarahalli. </p>.<p><strong>Are cheaper tickets enough?</strong></p>.<p>IT professional Anil believes that “a bad film cannot be sold — not even for free”. </p>.<p>“If audiences have to be brought back to the theatres, the focus must shift to building trust through compelling, high-quality storytelling. Today, viewers have access to films from around the world on their phones — they won’t step out just because tickets are cheaper. Watching a film in theatres also means spending time and money. The experience should feel worthy of the effort,” he says. </p>.<p>Although OTT has given tough competition to movie theatres, Narasimhalu believes high ticket prices is one of the biggest reasons audiences don’t go to theatres anymore. “If we try to address that problem first and audiences return to theatres, we can focus on the other problems,” he explains. </p>.<p><strong>Multiplexes will suffer</strong></p>.<p>“With the revenue being restricted, the biggest loser will perhaps be the multiplex chain PVR-INOX,” says trade analyst Narendra Gupta. “PVR-INOX has over 200 properties in Karnataka and they will suffer badly,” he adds. </p>.<p>Mallya points out that multiplexes make their profits on food and beverages. “They hardly make any money on the tickets unless it’s a big release,” he explains.</p>.<p>However, he believes tickets for IMAX and 4DX projection should be priced higher — in line with the investment cost. Sindhu too has a similar opinion. “That way they can perhaps makeup for what they’re losing in 2D projection,” she said.</p>.<p><strong>In 15 days? </strong></p>.<p>Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had earlier announced the move in the 2025-26 state budget. The Rs 200 cap will also include entertainment tax according to the draft. It is expected to be implemented within 15 days provided there are no objections from any party.</p>