Ticket price hikes for Pawan Kalyan’s Ustaad Bhagat Singh have been cleared in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana following a crucial Supreme Court intervention.
Initially, the film was confirmed to receive ticket hikes only in Andhra Pradesh. However, the latest development confirms that Telangana will also allow special pricing after the Supreme Court stayed an interim order from the Telangana High Court.
Supreme Court Clears Path for Ticket Hikes
The production house Mythri Movie Makers approached the Supreme Court of India challenging the Telangana High Court's interim directive that required state governments to announce cinema ticket price hikes at least 90 days before a film’s release. This directive had created uncertainty for producers of upcoming releases.
Following Mythri Movie Makers’ petition, the Supreme Court stayed the High Court’s interim order, allowing the existing approval system for ticket hikes to continue until further hearings. This decision has given immediate relief to producers facing strict pre-announcement timelines.
Ticket Price Structure for Telangana and AP
With the Supreme Court’s stay order, the makers can now apply for ticket price hikes in Telangana as well, which was earlier blocked due to the High Court’s directive.
In Andhra Pradesh, the film is expected to release with special pricing. Benefit show tickets are likely to be priced at ₹500 flat. For regular shows, single-screen theatres may charge the existing government-approved price plus ₹100, while multiplexes may charge the existing price plus ₹125.
Although there has been no official announcement yet, industry sources suggest that the makers are preparing to implement similar ticket hikes in both states for the release of Ustaad Bhagat Singh. The Supreme Court's intervention has essentially restored the earlier approval mechanism that producers had been using before the High Court’s restrictive order.
Impact on Telugu Film Industry
This legal development is significant not just for Ustaad Bhagat Singh but for the entire Telugu film industry, as it provides clarity on ticket pricing regulations and removes the 90-day advance notice requirement that had complicated release planning for major films.