The Karnataka government's decision to use Fair Price Shops, commonly known as ration shops, to sell movie tickets has sparked criticism, with many questioning whether the state's public distribution network should be used to promote a commercial film.
The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has directed Fair Price Shops across Karnataka to sell tickets for the Kannada film Sarkari Nyaya Bele Angadi. Each outlet has reportedly been allotted between 50 and 100 tickets, priced at ₹150 each, ahead of the film's release on July 31.
Directed by Satvik Pavan Kumar and starring Kumar Bangarappa and Ragini Dwivedi, Sarkari Nyayabele Angadi is centred on Karnataka's Public Distribution System (PDS) and the lives of people connected to ration shops.
According to the department's order, district and taluk officials have been asked to organise screenings and encourage ration shop owners, their families and ration card holders to watch the film. The department says the initiative is intended to spread awareness about the PDS and the Anna Bhagya scheme.
The move, however, has drawn criticism. Questions has been raised as to why ration shops, meant to distribute essential commodities, should also function as movie ticket counters. They argue that those interested in watching the film can buy tickets through regular channels and that government welfare infrastructure should not be used to promote a commercial release.
The order has also raised questions about the role of government departments in promoting films, with critics arguing that public resources should remain focused on delivering essential services rather than supporting a theatrical release.
The film releases on July 31, but even before reaching theatres, it has found itself at the centre of a debate over where government outreach ends and film promotion begins.
