As his meeting with Andhra Pradesh cinematography minister Perni Nani on Monday over fixing of cinema ticket rates in the theatres in AP ended up in a stalemate, film maker Ram Gopal Varma resumed his outburst against the state government.
On Tuesday, Varma wondered whether the Jagan Mohan Reddy government was behind the postponement of the release of S S Rajamouli’s latest film RRR by fixing low cinema ticket rates in Andhra Pradesh.
“Maharashtra state allowing @ssrajamouli’s RRR ticket price to sell at Rs 2,200 and his home state AP not even allowing to sell at Rs 200 raises an existential question – “WHO KILLED KATTAPPA?”
He pointed out for those who were not aware of these rates that Inox Insignica multiplex chain in the northern states sells tickets at Rs 2,200.
It is obvious that Varma wants to project director Rajamouli as “Kattappa” (Bahubali film character) and the Jagan Mohan Reddy government as the killer of Kattappa, despite being loyal to the kingdom (government).
One wonders how many people in Andhra Pradesh would afford Rs 2,200 per ticket to watch a movie, even if it is a big movie like RRR and has craze for Rajamouli or NTR or Ramcharan Teja.
One can understand the request from the film industry for reasonable rates in the theatres so that it would be a win-win situation for both audiences and the film makers. But asking for permission to charge such an exorbitant rate is silly.
It is time the film industry people realise the ground reality and be practical and wait for the decision of the government’s appointed committee on this issue.
