Tollywood bigwigs to meet Jagan on Feb 10

[Anta Assamey]

It is now official. Bigwigs of Telugu film industry are going to meet Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on February 10 to strike a deal with the state government on various issues plaguing the industry, including the most important issue of cinema ticket pricing.

As per the latest information from the industry sources, the delegation which is going to meet Jagan comprises actors megastar Chiranjeevi, NTR, Mahesh Babu, Prabhas and Narayana Murthy, directors S S Rajamouli and Trivikram Srinivas. 

A couple of other popular celebrities from the industry might also join the deliberations, sources said. “Needless to say, all those who would be present at the meeting have their films lined up for release shortly – right from Acharya to RRR to Radhe Shyam,” source said.

Industry sources said all credit goes to Chiranjeevi, though he refused to be referred to as the elder of the Tollywood.

The megastar, known for his soft nature and sweet talk, managed to prevail upon the chief minister during their last meeting on January 13 about the need to have a reasonable pricing of cinema tickets, since it is the survival of lakhs of workers depending on the cinema.

Apparently convinced by the presentation of the megastar, Jagan has agreed to consider the request of the film industry for a reasonable ticket pricing. He asked Chiranjeevi to send a formal representation from the industry on the ticket pricing issue.

Accordingly, the film industry people proposed to the Jagan government that the ticket prices should be decided in three categories: Multiplexes, air-conditioned theatres and non-air conditioned theatres, instead of area-wise pricing like gram panchayats, mandals and cities.

The chief minister reportedly agreed for the same. The Tollywood reportedly requested for the maximum ticket price of Rs 125 plus GST for an air-conditioned theatre, and Rs 70 plus GST for non-AC theatres.

The government, however, proposed that the maximum price could be Rs 100 plus GST for AC theatres and Rs 60 plus GST for non-AC theatres.

“But ultimately, Jagan might agree for the prices suggested by the industry after the meeting with the Tollywood delegation,” sources said.

The chief minister has also agreed to the request of the megastar for allowing theatres to screen five shows a day for the big ticket films in the first one week. It would be done on case to case basis, on the request of the film makers.