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Sambhar Mafia - Cooked To Kill!

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Fans Rejoice While Multiplexes Mourn TN Govt. Decision

If Karunanidhi’s order comes into force, you could soon grab a movie ticket at Sathyam Cineplex and Mayajaal at just Rs. 50. I know that it’s too good to be true. It would be interesting to see how the multiplexes react to such a directive by the government. Upcoming multiplexes like PVR and INOX would be seriously evaluating their plans in the light of the new rule.

An official release here said the Chief Minister M Karunaidhi, announced a minimum ticket rate of Rs 10 and maximum of Rs 50 for A/c theatres and Rs 7 and Rs 30 for non-A/c theatres in the corporation areas.

The rates would come into effect from January 1. The release said the Chief Minister declined permission to theatres to hike ticket charges for a period of two weeks when new films were exhibited. [Link]

If the price is capped, there would be less incentive for movie halls to provide superior service and to differentiate their offering. A/c halls might even switch off the A/c’s (as it used to be done in the past) half-way through the movie so that they can save on the power cost. Parking charges might go up and the price of the snacks could be jacked up to supplement the revenue loss.

While the average movie goer felt that Sathyam and Mayajaal charge high prices, there was always the other segment which was ready to pay the asking price for the ultimate movie experience. Although I’m in favour of doing away with the open fleecing in the first two weeks, I somehow feel the upper limit is quite harsh on the movie halls. It is better to let the market decide on the right price.

posted by Kaps at 1:41 AM

17 Comments:

  • Painting chennai red? As though the red in kerala and west bengal isn't enough?

    I like the fact that the prices have been left to the market to decide. And people pay not because the price are iok but bcos you can avoid the rogue crowd. Hooting is ok in some movies but certainly not all, and the easiest nway to enjoy a movie in chennai is to pay more and go to one of these theatres.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:27 AM  

  • It amazes me! Why does our bureaucracy doesn't appreciate demand vs supply?
    Or for that matter, why does the govt involve in price regulation for movie tickets?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:59 AM  

  • makkal uruptaa maari dhaan..
    Now we would see more and more jobless people lining up in the theatres to casually spend time.

    If 5 rs were to guarantee entertainment in an A/C environment,that would be a great pull for even high school students to bunk classes and gain entry into a theatre from the stolen 10rs note from dad's shirt..

    Nenachaalae kevalamaa irku.

    By Blogger rajesh, at 7:21 AM  

  • Having an upper limit is Ok coz in cities in Bangalore, prices shoot up to even 220 bucks depending on the movie. I remember shelling out 220 Bucks for that darn movie called KANK. :p

    But then may be, 50 is too less

    By Blogger Vamsi, at 8:32 AM  

  • Rs 100 is a fair price for cinema halls and the general public if the cinema halls are maintained properly. Fixing the maximum price at Rs 50 will allow black tickets to flourish. Govt should withdraw the tax concession for Tamil films named with Tamil titles and price of the tickets should be decided by the markets.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:43 AM  

  • While I'm against such populist (and mindless) directives coming from political class, the multiplexes charges do seem exorbitant. Even the F&B served in the multiplexes are priced anywhere between 100-200% more than its fair price just outside the multiplex.

    By Blogger Shashikant Kore, at 1:37 PM  

  • How does it matter what the prices of cinema tickets are? People can always find other ways of entertainment. Cinema is not like water that people are going to die if they dont have it. Instead of watching a movie every week, people can spend time on more productive activities and watch a movie once in 3 or 4 years like me and automatically cinema tickets will fall to Rs 5. In fact, im my opinion, the correct rate for a cinema ticket is 5 paisa. Anyway, actors and directors etc are not hugely talented people who are doing a lot of good for society or any such thing and if they get paid about Rs 5000 per movie, it is more than what they deserve.

    If the govt. is actually bothered about ppl, then why dont the put a cap on prices of vegetables or rice or water or the price of hospitalizsation or rents for houses or land price or any such thing?

    By Blogger redrajesh, at 1:52 PM  

  • Bad decision. My belief is in teh long run, this is a terrible move for Tamil Cinema. and yup I have a posting on that:)

    By Blogger RameshJ, at 3:09 PM  

  • Enough to make Milton Friedman turn in his grave!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:17 PM  

  • mann.. madras-a konjam valara vida maatengiraangappa!!! this is really bad, 50 bucks.. ambience gonna suck big time! i suggest pvr/inox not to go for this with such sick rules, they'll sure lose their fame!

    By Blogger januM, at 8:09 PM  

  • i dont get it....Is Karunanidhi planning to make TN bankrupt....first the rice....free T.v, Cut in Tax for movies named purely in Tamil...
    I wonder what's happening...

    But cheap thetres were always there...like SR Pankajam in Vadapalani.

    By Blogger Magnolia, at 2:23 AM  

  • The idea behind this movie is obviously to stifle the growth of multiplexes and new age movie chains, so that more and more people prefer to avoid the dirty and smelly theatres and instead sit in home and watch SUN TV and the fare that gets dished out in the SUN Group Channels....

    In other words, Self Interest pushed in the guise of Public Interest... and guess how none of the idiots in the competing media could ever find the real reason... funny !!!

    By Blogger ramki830, at 1:36 AM  

  • Is this move related to Shivaji Film?

    By Blogger askbabloo, at 6:07 AM  

  • Yes. Since SUN TV Group lost out in the distribution race for Sivaji movie (to Adlabs?), the 'K' Company has started its arm-twisting tactics. Incidentally, the timing of this move is so perfect that some more Multiplex chains (Inox, PVR, etc.) who are about to set foot in Chennai will now be in a quandary whether to go ahead with their project or not as the economics in the revised ticket pricing regime will not make any sense. So, it is double whammy for K company - on one side Sivaji team can be taught a lesson for not giving them distribution rights as per SUN's terms & on the other side, there is "revenue" possibility from Multiplex groups on the promise that the ticket pricing cap will be lifted after some time (may be a month or so after Sivaji's release).

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:35 PM  

  • There is more to this move than what meets the eye... also consider this - 1) Why is that only Chennai was alone chosen among all metros to implement CAS - Settop Box system ? 2) Why is that while multiplexes have been opened in such small towns like Lucknow and Nagpur have PVR and INOX multiplexes, Chennai does not have any (except the remotely located Mayajaal) 3) Why is that SUN TV made itself a pay channel in other cities, but not in Chennai ? 4) Why is that Tata Sky DTH Service is not carrying/allowed to carry SUN TV Group signals?

    Think folks .... Infact one could add a lot more !!

    By Blogger ramki830, at 1:14 AM  

  • Some sort of conspiracy has been done by the small time(useless,unknown)producers,distributers etc against bigger side(big actors,producers,directors) of the industry.This move will serve no purpose but
    1.tremendrously hamper the collections of medium to big budget movies.
    2.will pose a threat to the mere existence of multiplex in chennai.
    3.can make the upcoming multiplexes(about 60 screens) by end of 2008 to completely halt.
    4.film lovers can forget about big budget tamil movies in future.
    5.will cut the paycheck of actors,technicians to half.

    By Blogger vidharth, at 3:26 AM  

  • Some sort of conspiracy has been done by the small time(useless,unknown)producers,distributers etc against bigger side(big actors,producers,directors) of the industry.This move will serve no purpose but
    1.tremendrously hamper the collections of medium to big budget movies.
    2.will pose a threat to the mere existence of multiplex in chennai.
    3.can make the upcoming multiplexes(about 60 screens) by end of 2008 to completely halt.
    4.film lovers can forget about big budget tamil movies in future.
    5.will cut the paycheck of actors,technicians to half.

    By Blogger vidharth, at 3:31 AM  

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