Ticket rates for Allu Arjun’s much-anticipated Pushpa 2: The Rule have soared sky-high. While premiere shows in the Telugu states on the night of December 4 cost as much as Rs 1000, IMAX tickets in Bengaluru are selling for Rs 1400 in some theatres. The film, directed by Sukumar and also starring Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil, is a sequel to the 2021 film Pushpa: The Rise, which was a massive hit across India. The budget for the sequel is rumoured to have reached about Rs 500 crore.
The prices in the Telugu states have been hiked with government sanction, following a request from the film’s producers. Amid high interest in the film among moviegoers, a public interest litigation was filed in the Telangana High Court against the steep prices. Although the court agreed with the petitioner that the rates were too hight for common people, and “a huge burden on a family,” it refused to stall the film’s release.
Meanwhile, many viewers seem undeterred by the price hike, with reports suggesting that advance ticket sales had already crossed Rs 50 crore by December 3. The film is releasing on December 5. However, many viewers have also expressed dissatisfaction with what they see as prohibitive pricing.
Ravi (name changed), an IT professional based in Hyderabad, told TNM that he would rather wait for reviews to trickle in before making a decision. “I am waiting for reviews so that I can decide if I should spend that much to watch the movie in theatres," he said.
Others say they would rather wait for the prices to dip. A Hyderabad-based student said, “I was eagerly waiting to watch the film in the theatre, but now I’m going to wait for the prices to drop so that I can afford the ticket. I have no choice.”
While some fans said they find the prices justified, considering the time, effort and money spent on their favourite star’s film, many on social media expressed their surprise at one of the most expensively priced film in recent times.
One Twitter user called the hike a result of “short-term thinking” that could hurt movie theatres in the long run.
Another user too said the film wasn’t worth the expense, and they would rather wait for a week or so until the tickets become affordable.