A Bangalore -based enthusiastic film fond of his theater, his theater trips had come down after the period of Kovid -19 epidemic. An engineer and a curator of the World Cinema for the Bangalore International Film Festival (Biffes), Harish had a habit of watching a film every Friday for decades.
In the present situation, he throws light on a development that reflects the falling demand to see the theater. “Earlier, I will book my seat in advance, thanks to Mad Rush for tickets for Marki films in the early weekends. However, over the years, I am able to get tickets at the box office of multiplexes even for highly anticipated films in languages,” he says.
There is no denying that theater is facing its biggest test today. Factors such as the advent of streaming platforms and high price tickets have changed the habits of average film-goer. In 2024, PVR Inox Ltd. Closed 85 underperforming screen. The following year, the multiplex series decided to close 70 more properties. Similarly, single screen suffers, with a total count in Karnataka, 500 active screen posts came down to the epidemic before 650.
Bollywood star Aamir Khan considered the issue at the recently held World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (Waves) in Mumbai. One of the canstey box-office minds, Aamir faced failure with his previous film Lal Singh Chadhara (2022). As he is waiting for his next, Sitare land crossThe actor worried about the possibility of dramatic release in the coming days.
“For the size of the country and the number of people living here, we have some theater. I think we have 10,000 screens. Only 2% of the nation’s population sees movies in theaters. In America, which has one-third of India’s population, China has 90,000 screens. For me, this is what we should invest,” Aamir said in this event.
A file photo of a film in single-screen cinema in Bengaluru. , photo Credit:
Karnataka government proposes a hat
Movie-watching, especially in multiplexes, is an expensive experience. Bengaluru remains infamous for high -priced tickets. In this context, the state government’s proposal to cap on the film ticket price on to 200 came in the form of hope for the film’s enthusiasts. March 7, 2025, Declaration reminiscent of a call as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in his previous term in 2017. The Multiplex Association of India (MAI) appealed in the court against the government’s decision and migrated to the order at that time.
It seems that the government has placed the issue in “suspended animation”, writer and film critic S. Shyam Prasad says. “The Chief Minister has aligned with public sentiment, but I don’t think the market forces will allow them to implement the price cap. He has just made a populist statement,” he says.
Incidentally, just two months after proposing a price cap in 2017, Siddaramaiah spent ₹ 1,050 to see Bahubali 2: conclusion On a multiplex.
An executive from a popular multiplex series, on the condition of anonymity, suggests that tickets for big films are ₹ 700- The 800 in the initial weekend. Price in premium screen like Gold Class or Insignia can go up to ₹ 1,500. Bangalore Multiplex caught the eyeball for excessive rates for big star films like such as KGF: Chapter 2 (Maximum rate, rate of 2,500), RRR () 2,000), and Ponyin selvan (₹ 1,200).
The number of single-screen theaters in Karnataka came down for 500 post epidemics. , photo Credit:
Dynamic ticket pricing
The manufacturer of such Magnum Oppuis Wokes for special pricing of tickets Pushpa 2: Rules,In December 2024, actorAllu Arjun thanked the Andhra Pradesh government for approving the increase in ticket price and called it a “progressive decision”. The Andhra Pradesh government allowed the theater owners to revise the ticket rates for the first 10 days for other films, such as SS Rajamouli RRR (2022) And Ram Charan-S. Shankar movie game changer (2025).
Gautom Dutta, CEO, Revenue and Operations, PVR Inox, CEO, during Revenue and Operations, PVR Incox said, “The manufacturers want to collect money in four days. Initial figures mean a lot to them. They want to earn more than 100 crores to ₹ 150 crore on the first day. No one interested in running a film for a long period.” Pushpa 2: Rules.
While Tamil Nadu and Kerala have fixed ticket rates, which is no more than and 200, the Andhra Pradesh government has fulfilled the requests of the producers of big budget films to change ticket prices in the first week. This step can be problematic, as not all major films offer positive reactions. Interest in a film can be due to poor discussion, as family audience may hesitate to enter theaters unless the film is worth experienced on the big screen.
In such cases, the producers and distributors suffer losses, Mr. Rajaram, Vice President, Karnataka Film Exhibitions Federation. “Multiplexes, who deal with manufacturers in a percentage sharing system, are the greatest beneficial from the increase in the price of tickets. They play a strong role in changing costs,” they say, do not increase the ticket fare for single screen a-lister films not more than ₹ 100.
Karthik Gowda, filmmaker of Kannada, founder of Production House KRG Studios, has been emphasizing for dynamic ticket pricing for the last two years. “A film will open with a specific value, and if it gets a good response, the ticket price will increase. We are discussing this with exhibitions at KRG Studio,” Karthik proposed in 2023.
Yogi Ji Raj, co-founder of KRG Studio, says that this is the way ahead. “We distributed Daredevil mashtafa,A material-oriented Kannada film from the newcomers. We charged just ₹ 1 for the premiere. Those who came on the show loved the film and spread words. You should treat each film separately and increase the price based on people’s response, ”they say.
To please the price-sensitive audience, the Multiplex Association of India often organizes National Cinema Day. On that day, the price of tickets for all shows is ₹ 99. PVR Inox has also introduced a movie pass called PVR Passport, with which you can watch four films a month for ₹ 349.
OTT Challenge
Despite these changes, many people continue to watch their favorite movies in the comfort of their homes as they find OTT membership cheaper. Amazon Prime Video offers an annual membership at 1,499, while Netflix offers monthly membership at of 649 with an option to share account with four people. Jiohotstar. Provides an advertising annual membership at 1,499. The amount for mobile membership in platforms is very low.
A file photo of a multiplex in Bengaluru. In addition to ticket rates, steep prices of popcorn and other food and beverages in multiplexes have often angered the public. , photo Credit:
Expensive refreshment
In addition to ticket rates, steep prices of popcorn and other food and beverages in multiplexes have often angered the public. “Multiplex is selling social status rather than promoting cinema,” says Karnataka film exhibitions. The cost of a regular size popcorn tub is ₹ 350 to ₹ 400, while the maximum price is about 600 on a multiplex.
PVR Inox Ltd. The audience continues to face heat on the pricing of refreshments. Journalist Tridip. Mandal posted on X (East Twitter), which explained why people like OTT platforms in theaters. “55 grams of cheese for Popcorn, 55 460 for Popcorn, ₹ 360 for Pepsi’s 600 ml. PVR cinema, total ₹ 820 in Noida.
In 2023, his post on social media went viral, forced PVR Inox to offer ‘Bestseller@99’ offer, through which people can buy refreshments from Monday to Thursday from ₹ 99 to Thursday, although by 6 pm, the proposal comes with restrictions that vary from the city to the city.
A file photo of Santosh Theater in Bengaluru. , photo Credit:
In the early weekend of a big film, a family of four can spend ₹ 3,000 to 4,000 on a multiplex, including snacks. In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that “multiplexes are personal qualities, and owners can determine terms and conditions for entry”, allowing people carrying food to theaters. “Consumers are a small fish against large sharks such as multiplexes. Mai makes crores annually. It is impossible to go against it in court,” Shyam noted.
Says Rajaram, “Many people of the state government and MLA are stakeholders in multiplex properties. If revenue from multiplex decreases, it will affect them. Therefore, I suspect that the ticket price-covering proposal will be official in Karnataka,” says Rajaram.
Recently, Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar reopening the debate by talking about people living away from theaters. He said, “Since a film outing costs ₹ 10,000, families have not spent so much on films, reduce their journeys in the theater,” they said in a conversation.,
In a public statement, Mai President Kamal Gianchandani fought Karan’s comments. “In 2023, the average ticket price in all theaters in India was (ATP), 130. The country’s largest cinema series, PVR Inox, reported ATP of 258, for the financial year 2023-24.
He said that the fate of a film depends on “content and appeal” rather than pricing. “Any evaluation of pricing in the cinema industry should be responsible for the broad economics of the film business, including many stakeholders, including manufacturers, distributors, and exhibitors. Each of these players contributes to the final cost for consumers, to reduce prices to lower prices.
Rajaram says that sometimes excessive rates matter for people watching movies. “For them, this is just an outing, and they will be ready to spend. Regular Shikshagor feels that he is exploded from theaters. It’s a day’s robbery of the film’s enthusiasts,” he says.
(Edited by Giridhar Narayan)
Published – 16 May, 2025 07:20 AM IST
