Film buffs attack theatres as they fail to get tickets

Sources said that the movie-lovers gathered at Sri Kanya and other two theatres and waited in queue for Bahubali tickets though no posters were put up outside the theatre. Generally, the theatres screen new Telugu films for at least a week but this time it did not happen. The fans were irked that Sri Kanya was screening an English film and pelted a few stones breaking glass panes. As the situation turned tense, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

Youngsters, including girls were waiting for hours at Varun Beach Inox from the early hours on Thursday. The management issued tickets for various shows for the first three days and within a few hours the staff declared that the tickets for all three days were booked. They claimed that tickets could be booked online but fans say they were unable to access the websites. There were allegations that the theatre managements were hoarding the tickets to sell them at higher rates later.

Speaking to newsmen, joint collector J. Nivas said that they have received several complaints Bahubali movie tickets are being sold at huge prices and decided to ensure availability of higher class tickets through online to prevent crowding and black marketing at the theatres. He said they instructed all the owners of the theatres to sell 100 per cent of higher denomination (above Rs 50) tickets through online for a week for this movie, as several people are thronging the theaters for tickets while those of lower denominations would be sold at the theatres as usual.

Contradicting the claims of Mr Nivas, most of the theatres sold the higher denomination tickets at the counters only. The movie lovers alleged that the owners of the theatres had blocked some tickets by cheating the movie-lovers.