Hyderabad: After Telangana high court directed the state govt to review its decision to allow additional shows and increase ticket prices for the Ram Charan-starrer Game Changer, the home department on Saturday withdrew its previous order but said the withdrawal would take effect from Jan 16, after Sankranti festival.
In a memo, special chief secretary (home) Ravi Gupta announced early morning shows would no longer be permitted until public interest, health, and safety were thoroughly considered, in compliance with the directions of the high court .
This decision came in response to the court’s interim direction on Friday, which ordered the govt to reassess its Jan 8 memo that allowed ticket rate hikes—Rs 150 for multiplexes and Rs 100 for single theatres—on the movie’s release. The court also instructed that early morning shows would only be allowed after ensuring public interest and safety. The court asked the govt to review the order within 24 hours.
On Jan 8, the home department had approved a request by Game Changer producers, Venkateshwara Creations, to increase ticket prices and allow additional shows due to the film’s high budget. Initially, the govt permitted six shows, including a 4 am screening on Jan 10, on the first day of the release of the film, and allowed multiplexes to charge Rs 150 more per ticket, and single theatres an extra Rs 100.
For subsequent days from Jan 11 to 19, the govt allowed the production house to screen five shows and additional charges of Rs 100 for multiplexes and Rs 50 for single theatres. But the home department rejected the producers’ proposal to screen the benefit show at 1 am.
However, when govt the memo was challenged by Bharat Raj from Kanchanbagh, the court questioned the govt’s failure to adhere to its commitment made during the Pushpa-2 controversy, including not permitting benefit shows in the future.
It may be recalled a woman had died in the stampede on Dec 4 night benefit show at Sandhya Theatre, while her son is still undergoing treatment at a private hospital. In connection with the stampede case, actor Allu Arjun was arrested and later released after the court granted bail to him.
In a memo, special chief secretary (home) Ravi Gupta announced early morning shows would no longer be permitted until public interest, health, and safety were thoroughly considered, in compliance with the directions of the high court .
This decision came in response to the court’s interim direction on Friday, which ordered the govt to reassess its Jan 8 memo that allowed ticket rate hikes—Rs 150 for multiplexes and Rs 100 for single theatres—on the movie’s release. The court also instructed that early morning shows would only be allowed after ensuring public interest and safety. The court asked the govt to review the order within 24 hours.
On Jan 8, the home department had approved a request by Game Changer producers, Venkateshwara Creations, to increase ticket prices and allow additional shows due to the film’s high budget. Initially, the govt permitted six shows, including a 4 am screening on Jan 10, on the first day of the release of the film, and allowed multiplexes to charge Rs 150 more per ticket, and single theatres an extra Rs 100.
For subsequent days from Jan 11 to 19, the govt allowed the production house to screen five shows and additional charges of Rs 100 for multiplexes and Rs 50 for single theatres. But the home department rejected the producers’ proposal to screen the benefit show at 1 am.
However, when govt the memo was challenged by Bharat Raj from Kanchanbagh, the court questioned the govt’s failure to adhere to its commitment made during the Pushpa-2 controversy, including not permitting benefit shows in the future.
It may be recalled a woman had died in the stampede on Dec 4 night benefit show at Sandhya Theatre, while her son is still undergoing treatment at a private hospital. In connection with the stampede case, actor Allu Arjun was arrested and later released after the court granted bail to him.
