Telangana High Court Takes Action on Controversial Film Ticket Pricing
The Telangana High Court has stepped into a brewing controversy surrounding the latest Tollywood release starring megastar Chiranjeevi. On Friday, the court issued formal notices to the state government in response to a petition that alleges the film 'Mana Shankar Varaprasad Garu' generated approximately 42 crore rupees through specially hiked ticket rates.
Court Directs GST Officials to Provide Statistical Data
Justice NV Shravan Kumar, presiding over the case, directed Goods and Services Tax (GST) officials to submit all relevant statistical data pertaining to the film's ticket sales and revenue collection. The court has adjourned the matter for further hearing, scheduling the next proceedings for February 3, 2024.
The legal challenge was initiated by advocate Paduri Srinivas Reddy, who filed a petition contesting a memo issued by the special chief secretary of the Home Department on January 8. This controversial memorandum permitted special shows of the Chiranjeevi-starrer and authorized enhanced ticket prices for the film's exhibition across theaters in Telangana.
Petitioner's Allegations of Illegal Pricing Practices
The petitioner presented a detailed argument against the ticket pricing structure, contending that the government's authorization was fundamentally illegal. According to the petition, the special chief secretary's memo allowed:
- Ticket price increases of up to 600 rupees, inclusive of GST, for special shows of the film
- Price hikes of 50 rupees in single-screen theaters for a week-long period
- Additional charges of 100 rupees in multiplex cinemas for the same duration
"The petitioner has strongly argued that the 42 crore rupees generated through these revised pricing mechanisms constitutes unlawful revenue," the court documents reveal. The advocate further asserted that this amount should be legally recoverable from the production houses involved in the film's distribution.
Specific Demands in the Legal Petition
Advocate Paduri Srinivas Reddy has made several specific requests to the High Court through his petition:
- Directions to recover the entire 42 crore rupees from the production houses responsible for the film
- An order to deposit the recovered amount either to the State Consolidated Fund or to the High Court Legal Services Authority
- Imposition of a personal fine of 15 lakh rupees on the special chief secretary who issued the controversial memo
The case highlights growing concerns about transparency and legality in film ticket pricing, particularly when government authorities intervene in what many consider should be market-driven decisions. The Telangana High Court's intervention marks a significant development in this ongoing debate about entertainment industry regulations and consumer protection.
As the legal proceedings continue, all eyes will be on the GST officials' statistical submission and the state government's response to the court's notices. The outcome could potentially set important precedents for how film ticket pricing is regulated in Telangana and possibly influence practices in other states across India.
