AP movie ticket pricing row: Govt allows reopening of closed theaters

Telugu film director and producer R Narayana Murthy, along with film exhibitors, met Cinematography Minister Perni Vekatramaiah on 30 December and discussed the issue being faced by theater owners across Andhra Pradesh. In the meeting, representatives of the film fraternity urged the minister to resolve the ticket pricing issues at the earliest.

Responding positively to the request, Minister Nani announced that 83 theaters in 9 districts that have been seized across the state will be allowed to reopen. The government, which has so far agreed to open cinema halls, has given them a deadline for renewal of their licenses and other certificates within four weeks. Film halls can now be opened but only after paying the fine.

After the meeting, the minister directed the district authorities to provide relaxation and further asked the theater owners to place their applications before the joint collectors for the reopening of theatres.

Joint collectors, police and revenue officials had earlier carried out inspections at cinemas across the state, which revealed that 103 theaters were operating without license renewals. Cinema halls were also found selling tickets at exorbitant prices and violating other rules. Some other theaters were earlier closed due to lack of license. However, now the government has decided to give one more chance to the theater owners.