Sankranti Movies: Andhra First, Telangana Follows Later

With the new governments in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, it has become easier to obtain permits for benefit shows. In both states, shows have been starting from midnight.

For instance, the shows for Pushpa-2 began as early as 9:30 PM the day before the official release. However, during one such show, a stampede occurred at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre, leading to the unfortunate death of a woman and a child being critically injured. This incident sparked a major controversy, which resulted in stricter regulations on benefit shows in Telangana. The government has now made it clear that benefit shows and additional ticket pricing will not be allowed.

As Sankranti approaches, excitement around the release of new films is building, with producers eager to secure additional shows and ticket rates. In Andhra Pradesh, permits for such shows are being granted with ease. Game Changer and Daaku Maharaaj have already received approval, and Sankrantiki Vastunnam is also expected to get permission soon.

However, the situation in Telangana remains unclear. Among the three major films releasing for Sankranti, two are produced by Dil Raju. The third film is also being distributed by him in the Nizam region. As a result, Dil Raju is actively seeking extra shows and higher ticket rates. Yet, the government has not yet provided clarity on the matter. If permits are granted, it seems that there will be no midnight or early-night shows. The government is reportedly considering giving permissions only for shows after 4 AM or later in the morning.

While Dil Raju is focusing on securing extra rates, he seems to be okay with the lack of midnight shows, as long as he can get early-morning slots. In contrast, in Andhra Pradesh, midnight shows for Game Changer and Daaku Maharaaj have already been confirmed. During the tenure of the Jagan government, film lovers in Andhra faced a struggle due to the ban on midnight and early-morning shows. In the past, shows would begin in Telangana well in advance, and word-of-mouth would spread quickly before people in Andhra could watch the films. However, in the current scenario, Andhra fans will be able to catch the first shows, while audiences in Telangana will have to wait for their turn.