The Karnataka High Court has temporarily stopped the state government’s rule that limited movie ticket prices to Rs. 200 in all theaters. This means theaters can charge more until the court makes a final decision.
The government introduced the Rs. 200 cap to make movies, especially Kannada films, more affordable. The rule applied to almost all theaters, except small premium screens with fewer than 75 seats. A similar cap was tried in 2017 but was later removed.
Multiplexes like PVR and INOX, along with some film producers including those behind Kantara, challenged the rule. They said it was unfair because it did not consider the high costs of running theaters and making films. They also said it could hurt big movie releases.
The court, led by Justice Ravi V. Hosmani, paused the cap after hearing both sides. For now, ticket prices can stay higher, which is good for theaters but may disappoint some moviegoers.
This news has sparked discussions online about whether ticket caps help audiences or hurt the film industry. The final court decision will decide how much tickets cost in Karnataka.
For now, this is good news for Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1, as its collections in the state will not be affected.