JOIN USBaahubali-2: Wait for 'fare order' stalls bookings at multiplexes
A day is left for the release of ‘Baahubali-2: The conclusion’, the much-awaited Telugu flick, in the state on April 28, but an air of uncertainty still prevails, with multiplexes yet to finalise their schedule.
The multiplexes, planning on getting a ‘lion’s share of screen space’, on Wednesday waited for a notification by the state government to cap fare at Rs 200, as announced in its recent budget. While enquiries are pouring in for advance booking and schedules, the recent announcement of the government has come in the way, rued many exhibitors with whom DH spoke to.
It’s no different in Mangaluru, which has three multiplexes – Bharath Cinemas at Bharat Mall opposite KSRTC bus stand at Bejai, PVR Cinemas at Forum Fizza Mall at Pandeshwar and Cinepolis at City Center Mall on KS Rao Road.
Sadashiva Putran, manager at Bharath Cinemas said, “The schedule should be ready Thursday afternoon. Notification over fare from the state government through district administration is awaited.”
When the reporter enquired at the ticket counter at the entrance to the mall, the counter personnel said, “Advance bookings are yet to be opened with no instructions from higher-ups in this regard.”
Special screening
At Cinepolis, although the schedule remains to be fixed, special previews are planned for the eve (on Thursday) between 9 pm and 10 pm. Five previews are planned, for 9 pm, 9.10 pm, 9.30 pm, 9.40 pm and 10 pm. While the original Telugu version is expected to be screened at 9 pm and 10 pm, the dubbed Hindi version is fixed for 9.10 pm and 9.40 pm and the Tamil version is at 9.30 pm. However, they are yet to be opened for booking, with no confirmation yet from the authorities, said a person preferring anonymity, who attributed it to the cap on fare again.
The response at PVR Cinemas was similar, who said, in comparison, the schedule of the first part of the movie was released two days in advance. But, they were confident that the schedule will be fixed late in the night.
Finding answers
According to a source, unlike ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’ (considered as part 1) that hit the screens in 2015, the second version with a suffix ‘The Conclusion’ has garnered attention manifold. The foremost reason is finding answer to the long-pending ‘on screen’ query, ‘Why did Kattappa (played by Sathyaraj) kill Baahubali?’ Another reason is the movie’s rich visuals with loads of special effects, avowed by many in the earlier version too.
The movie was in news for the remarks made by actor Satyaraj during the Cauvery agitation in Tamil Nadu. Following this, prominent Kannada activists had also threatened to stall the release. However, it petered out, with Satyaraj tendering an apology, after its director S S Rajamouli also cleared air over the same.