Bengaluru: The city of Bengaluru is a hub for movie lovers. Bengalureans enjoy going out to watch films. In fact there’s nothing they enjoy more than catching the latest release in the comfort of a multiplex.
But of late their enjoyment has been shaken by the high-priced multiplexes. A weekend movie ticket in Karnataka can cost up to a whopping Rs 450 and this is true for Kannada movies as well.
Now, a petition has started floating around demanding that the state government, especially the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, fix ticket prices permanently at Rs 120 for all films. The petition has already garnered close to 36,000 signatures in a few days.
Sandeep Goswami, engineer, resident of Indiranagar and one of the signatories, points out, “A movie, irrespective of language is a piece of art and any art needs recognition and appreciation, whether positive or negative. This recognition and appreciation needs an audience, which is -- US, the masses".
"If the ticket prices are so high, people tend to short-list movies and so a lot of low-budget, good movies lose their audience. Which is why a fair pricing system for movie tickets in Karnataka is the need of the hour.”
The petition maintains that the ticket prices vary, depending on demand and increased profit margins. Hence, the movie-watching audience ends up being looted. Neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu have ordered a maximum ticket cap of Rs 120, irrespective of the movie or show timing. They question why the Government of Karnataka can’t do the same.
Ravi Kumar, another signatory, says, “There are people living in this IT hub who are contributing to the city’s growth in some way or the other. Movies are the only entertainment for some of us and if the government can streamline the ticket costs, it will make a big difference”
