The makers of Akhanda 2 were hit with an unexpected setback just a day after the Telangana government officially approved a GO allowing ticket price hikes. The order permitted elevated ticket rates for single screens, multiplexes, and a premium price for the December 11 premiere. However, the Telangana High Court has now suspended the GO after a lunch motion petition was filed by advocate Srinivas Reddy, who sought its cancellation. This development mirrors the situation seen earlier with They Call Him OG, where permission for special shows and revised pricing was also withdrawn, leading to changes only after the first weekend. With Akhanda 2 already seeing housefull premiere bookings, rolling back prices at this stage becomes complicated.
As per the suspended GO, the government had approved a hike of 50 rupees for single screens and 100 rupees for multiplexes from the 12th to the 14th of this month, while the premiere ticket price had been fixed at Rs. 600. The sudden intervention has caused confusion among distributors, exhibitors, and audiences who had planned their bookings based on the revised prices. Industry experts are urging the film federation and government to establish a permanent system that avoids such last-minute disruptions. Consistent policy and clear guidelines are essential to maintaining audience confidence and ensuring smooth film releases without affecting momentum or revenue projections.
