Recently, a small film titled Raju Weds Rambai was released in theaters with a ticket price of ₹99 at single-screen cinemas. Although this move faced some backlash from a few exhibitors, affordable ticket pricing could become a game-changer for small films. In fact, several people from the industry are supporting this strategy.
A large section of the audience is unhappy with the Tollywood industry due to high ticket prices. Even producers have admitted this many times, yet they continue to set maximum ticket prices and approve steep hikes for big films. For star-driven films, stardom attracts audiences on the first day, while word of mouth plays an important role afterward.
However, high ticket prices mostly affect small films. Many small movies are released with maximum ticket prices, as per government orders, but this pricing does not work for audiences. As a result, several small films fail to achieve even decent footfalls.
It now appears that the Telugu film industry has started to learn this lesson and is moving toward affordable ticket pricing for small films. Most small movies are opting for a ₹99 ticket price at single screens, and this approach is working well.
This trend should continue. Medium-budget films also need to find ways to attract more audiences. While they may not be able to offer ₹99 tickets, avoiding ticket price hikes in Andhra Pradesh could still benefit them.
In Telangana, the maximum multiplex ticket price of ₹295 should be revised for medium-budget films if the industry wants to increase theater footfalls.
