PK’s Remarks on Ticket Hikes Spark Divided Reactions

At the pre-release event of Ustaad Bhagat Singh, actor and Ap deputy cm Pawan Kalyan made some interesting comments about the film industry and the ongoing debate around ticket price hikes.

Addressing the gathering, Pawan Kalyan said he always wishes success for films across industries and has no discrimination toward anyone. He stated that whether it is a film starring Jr NTR, Mahesh Babu, or Prabhas, he hopes every movie becomes a big success. 

He also mentioned the Kannada blockbuster Kantara as an example, adding that good cinema should always be encouraged all over regardless of language or star power. Adding further he stated that despite Telugu films facing backlash in Karnataka, he never though ill about films like Kantara as it is an Indian film and needs to be encouraged.

Speaking about ticket price hikes, Pawan Kalyan said that they should not be viewed as exploitation. According to him, watching a film in theatres is not mandatory to everyone forcefully, as audiences today have several alternatives like OTT platforms, including Netflix.

He explained that producers invest huge amounts of money in making films and often request ticket price hikes only for the opening day or initial run to recover costs.

While his comments have received praise from many in the film industry, a section of the audience felt slightly offended. They believe ticket price hikes may be acceptable if they are reasonable, but in recent times the increases have often gone beyond what a common moviegoer can afford.

As a state’s Deputy CM, some feel Pawan could have taken a more balanced stand on the issue. However, in the end, content speaks louder than anything else. If a film truly clicks with audiences, ticket hikes may not become a major concern, as seen with several big hits in the past.