During a media interaction for the promotion of Ghatikachalam, a horror film which producer SKN and director Maruthi are distributing, SKN addressed the recent row of ticket hikes for films. Producer Naga Vamsi recently made comments saying, “Movie ticket pricing is not increasing. At best for three hours of engagement, a family is paying only Rs 1500. Cinema watching is still the cheapest form of expenditure. Which other form of entertainment offers this?” The comments drew sharp criticism from netizens and cinephiles who slammed the producer for the price hikes and the explanation.
Talking about the hike of prices, producer SKN gave a breakdown of the math, “Rs 1500 is spent by a family for a film in a single screen. A 28 percent tax will be deducted from the amount, 50-60 percent will be going to the exhibitors and only 30 percent will be going to the producer’s pocket.”
He further added that just as audiences have the right to ask for lower prices, similarly, the makers of cinema also have the right to fix a price. “Anyone who makes a product in the world can put a price of their choice and it is the audience who decides if he wants to spend the said amount on the product. Just as the audience has the right to ask for lower ticket prices, the makers too have their reasons, like the increased cost of making a film. We should see the larger picture instead of throwing a spotlight on ticket price hikes,” he said.
Producer Naga Vamsi, owner of Sithara Entertainments, remarked about the issue of film ticket pricing and the criticism towards it during a recent interview to promote his upcoming release, Lucky Baskhar starring Dulquer Salmaan.
Producer SKN, of Mass Movie Makers, is distributing the horror film Ghatikachalam and another untitled lovestory with director Sai Rajesh, the duo famous for the hit film, Baby.
