“Baahubali 2” is one of the most awaited movies that has ever been made by the Indian Film industry. First it was the comments of actor Sathyaraj on the River Cauvery and Kannadigas which created uncertainty over the release of Baahubali 2. Now, it is the Karnataka government’s capping of Rs 200 imposed on tickets in multiplexes and single screen theaters which is posing a challenge for the movie distributors and theater owners to go ahead with the screening.
About 12 people have taken the distribution of Baahubali 2 for commission in the state. Not less than 300 theaters are all set ready to screen the movie from April 28 (Friday). The producers of the movie, through their own company Arka Communications, holds the theatrical rights. Single screens in Bengaluru have booked/sold tickets online in the range of Rs 400 to 600. The first show in some multiplexes is as early as 6.30 am on the release day. For some prime shows, the tickets are already sold out.
According to Karnataka Film Chamber Of Commerce President SA Ra Govindu, the government may issue a notification imposing the capping of Rs 200 per ticket in all types of theaters, on Thursday morning. If that happens then theater owners would have to charge a maximum of Rs 200 per ticket and return the rest of the money they have collected to the ticket-holders.
Govindu said, “The Chief Minister’s Office has informed me that the government would be notifying today (Wednesday) its decision on the capping on ticket rates. But now we have learnt that the notification may be available on Thursday morning. If that happens, then multiplex theatres cannot charge more than the maximum price set by the government. This is inclusive of taxes. In case the notification is not issued, then we would have to resort to agitation.” Asked whether it would be financially viable for theater owners and distributors to screen a mega budget movie like Baahubali for low ticket price, Govindu said, “All these days they made huge profit. Now let common man and poor people too have the joy of watching movies in multiplexes. Tickets should be offerdable whether it is single theater or multiplex.”
Manjunath Gowda, aka Jack Manju, has taken the distribution rights on commission for Baahubali 2 in Chitradurga district. He is also the owner of Sharada Theater in Bengaluru. He said, “In Sharada theater, I have kept the price of a ticket at Rs 250. If the government capping is imposed, then I will return Rs 50 extra that I have collected from viewers. I will display a board saying I will return the money.”
However, he said, he will not face similar problem in Chitradurga as the prices of tickets will be between Rs 75 to 100. In Chitradurga he has gone for advance booking of tickets because he is yet to get the release order from the satellite content holders of the movie. “But the demand for tickets is very high. The movie has no religion or language barrier. Those who usually do not watch movies have evinced interest in watching the movie. I will be screening the movie in 11 theaters of Chitradurga district,” he added.
Sources in the industry say that the producers of Baahubali are expecting a minimum of Rs 40 to 42 crore business in Karnataka. But this calculation is based on the prevailing ticket prices in Bengaluru.