Just hours before the highly anticipated release of Pawan Kalyan’s big-ticket film OG, the Telangana High Court issued a surprising order that suspended the government’s decision to allow increased ticket prices and special midnight shows. This ruling comes as a major shock to fans and distributors, especially since lakhs of tickets had already been sold at premium rates.

Justice NV Shravan Kumar passed the order while reviewing a petition filed by Mahesh Yadav, who argued that the state government has no authority to fix ticket prices or grant permissions for extra shows. According to him, only the Hyderabad police commissioner and respective district collectors hold such powers under law. The court agreed to hear the matter further, scheduling the next session for October 9.

The suspension of the hike has left both audiences and the film’s team in confusion. With tickets already sold at elevated prices, the question now arises whether refunds or adjustments will be made. Distributors may soon approach the court with a motion petition to counter the ruling, while reports suggest the government could direct district collectors to reauthorize the hike.

Previously, the Telangana government had approved ticket prices as high as Rs. 800 for special shows and allowed hikes in multiplexes and single screens, anticipating heavy demand for OG. Despite this setback, early trade reports confirm that OG’s advance worldwide sales are inching close to Rs. 100 crores, signaling a massive opening irrespective of the court’s suspension. The ruling has created an unprecedented scenario in Tollywood, with legal, financial, and audience-related implications just before release. Whether the court’s decision impacts the film’s earnings or turns into a temporary hurdle remains to be seen.