Watching movies at multiplexes will get cheaper. The cost of a movie ticket in all theatres of the state, including multiplexes, will be capped at Rs 200. The CM Friday announced that Karnataka will create an OTT platform to promote Kannada movies. An international level Film City will come up in Mysuru at a cost of Rs 500 crore under PPP model.

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Watching movies at multiplexes will get cheaper. CM Siddaramaiah announced that the price of a movie ticket in all theatres of the state, including multiplexes, will be capped at Rs 200.

In Karnataka, there are 650 single screens and 70-odd multiplexes, including 41 in Bengaluru. The CM also announced that the govt will create an OTT platform to promote Kannada movies.

M Narasimhalu, president of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, said: “Theatres will see more footfall due to the capping of the ticket price. Now, a person needs Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 to watch a film in multiplexes; with the same amount, an entire family can watch the film in future. The decision taken by the CM incentivizes people to watch films.”

He added the govt’s decision to create an OTT platform will help the Kannada film industry. The chief minister said the cinema sector will be given industry status.

Karnataka Film Exhibitors Association president K V Chandrashekar, said: “The budget has fulfilled the industry demand for capping the movie ticket price. States like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana have capped movie ticket prices. As it applies to single screens and multiplexes, there will be non-dynamic pricing in future. Now, for the first-day show, even single-screen theatres charge Rs 250 to Rs 300, and multiplexes charge a much more exorbitant price. This will stop. In future, they cannot cross the Rs 200 mark.”

However, this is not the first time Siddaramaiah has attempted to cap the ticket price. In 2017, his govt issued an order capping movie tickets at Rs 200. The order issued then exempted ‘premier/gold class’ from capping the price. Irked by the govt, multiplex owners approached the court, and following which, the cap was lifted. Other announcements include development of multiplex on 2.5 acres owned by Karnataka Film Academy at Nandini Layout and setting up of a film city of international standards in Mysuru at a cost of Rs 500 crore on a PPP model. The govt had identified 150 acres for the project.