Perni Nani's Befitting Reply to RGV's Tweets on Movie Ticket Pricing

5 Jan, 2022 12:29 IST|Sakshi Post

AMARAVATI/HYDERABAD: Interestingly maverick filmmaker and director Ram Gopal Varma  (RGV) has suddenly taken up the cudgels of the  Telugu film industry with regards to movie ticket pricing and regulation in the State of Andhra Pradesh. Taking to his favorite haunt the social blogging site -Twitter on Tuesday, RGV posed a series of questions to Minister Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani) regarding the cinema tickets pricing, to which the Minister ‘gently’ answered them in his own imitable while explaining the stance of the AP Government.

Starting off Perni Nani said that he had read RGVs tweets and asked a basic doubt. “Which basic economics says that an Rs.100 ticket can be sold for Rs.1,000 and Rs.2,000? What does the basic law say about this? What market mechanism is this called? Is it called demand & supply? Or is it called black marketing? he asked.

To ensure that the common man's likings and affection are not robbed, all state governments have been setting the price of movie tickets as per law for the past 66 years. With regards to your question as to how the government could control the prices of movie tickets just as how it controls the prices of essential commodities like salt and cereals. Theaters are public places where entertainment services are provided, he explained.

You spoke about a  basic principle in economics stating that motivation is lost if prices are forcibly reduced. Please clarify, is it meant for the buyers or sellers? You left the consumer angle into the thin air while talking about the producers' benefit. Please think about the audience benefit also Varma Garu, Perni Nani replied.

With regards to RGV’s point to give subsidy to the movie industry while considering it an emergency service like medical or education Perni Nani clarified that the State government does consider cinema either as an essential or as an emergency service.

Also Read: Fix Movie Tickets Price After Consultation With Joint Collectors: AP High Court

The provisions of the 1970 Cinematography Act only state that the price of movie tickets in the theatres should be determined solely on the basis of the facilities provided to the audience, he informed. You have spoken about a formula for the remuneration given by the producers to the heroes. No state government will ever determine the price of tickets in theaters, taking into account the remuneration paid to heroes or on how much you spend on the making of the films, the Minister tweeted.

You have asked a question on what is the role of the government in determining the market price of a commodity. Cinema is not a commodity, it is only an entertainment service. Keeping in mind the people, we (AP Govt) are regulating the ticket pricing in theatres only… and most certainly not the regulation of movie production, he explained further.

In answer to RGV’s last tweet, Perni Nani gave a befitting reply. You have stated that our government has been given the power to support from the bottom and not to sit on the top of your heads. Just like giving strength from below, if we let the industry sell cinema tickets at any price, and by regulating the pricing and stopping the common man from being looted, is it similar to sitting on your head. Is it justified for you to speak in this manner, Perni Nani asked  RGV and said thank you very much with the same namasthe emoji.

It is known that as part of its policy to streamline the way film theatres function in the State, the AP Government-issued GO No 35 for regulating and fixing ticket prices in movie theatres. It also issued GO 142 where the government was making a provision for an online ticketing system to prevent black marketing of tickets and regulate prices. To this effect the AP Cinemas (Regulation) Amendment Act 2021 was amended in the Assembly recently.

Also Read: Movie Tickets Pricing: Entertainment Should Be Available To Common Man, Botsa Subtle Reply To Nani's Comments

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