CHENNAI: Actor Vishal, the president of Tamil Film Producers' Council (TFPC), might have thundered a out pro-people remark after the stalemate over ticket costs with the state executive ended, however theatre house owners have a script of their own.
Reports about theatres charging exorbitant rates for the Diwali biggie - actor Vijay's 'Mersal' — trickled in over the weekend and reached a crescendo on Monday. While multiplex chains are mostly adhering to the norms, a number of unmarried and double display theatres in and around Chennai, and the neighbouring Chengalpet and Kancheepuram are charging any place between `400 and `600 in step with ticket for early displays on Diwali day.
"These screens are opting to call them special shows or fan club shows. Tickets for the fan club shows on Wednesday morning at Chennai's Rohini complex were being sold at a high of `1,200," said an trade source.
Actor Vishal had last week warned theatre house owners. "Theatres should adhere to the new rates fixed by the government and should not charge anything extra. If any theatre does that, public should lodge complaints with the authorities," he had said.
But theatre house owners do not seem to have bothered to heed his caution.
"The fan clubs have booked in bulk for their show at 10.30am on Diwali day. We have given them printed tickets only at `205 per ticket. We have no idea or control over what they do with that," Nikilesh Surya, government director, Rohini Silver Screens, advised TOI. "Since the government order for the new ticket rates was issued on Monday evening, we opened regular online bookings at night at the official rates plus taxes," he added.
The two-screen Vetri advanced in Chromepet, known for promoting tickets at top rates for large films, said in its authentic Facebook submit - "The first two shows on Diwali day have been allotted for fan clubs, industry friends and officials. Other shows on October 18 will open online tonight, while counter and online booking will start tomorrow (Tuesday) for shows from October 19...". The fanatics have hit out on the theatre control, with some equating the contention of "industry friends and officials" to "selling in black". At a few different suburban theatres in Chennai and in Kancheepuram district, ticket costs ranged around `400. "If somebody is violating, we can't help it. We can't comment on that also," Abirami S Ramanathan, president, Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners' Association, advised TOI.
The new ticket costs, as in step with the federal government order
issued on Monday shall be `50 and `150 for multiplexes,
`40 and `100 for AC unmarried displays, `30 and `80 for non-AC unmarried displays, but even so `25 and `75 for AC theatres in village panchayats and `20 and `50 for non-AC be uniformly charged at eight% for Tamil films and 20% for non-Tamil films, GST
shall be 18% for tickets priced beneath `100 and 28% for the ones priced higher.
Reports about theatres charging exorbitant rates for the Diwali biggie - actor Vijay's 'Mersal' — trickled in over the weekend and reached a crescendo on Monday. While multiplex chains are mostly adhering to the norms, a number of unmarried and double display theatres in and around Chennai, and the neighbouring Chengalpet and Kancheepuram are charging any place between `400 and `600 in step with ticket for early displays on Diwali day.
"These screens are opting to call them special shows or fan club shows. Tickets for the fan club shows on Wednesday morning at Chennai's Rohini complex were being sold at a high of `1,200," said an trade source.
Actor Vishal had last week warned theatre house owners. "Theatres should adhere to the new rates fixed by the government and should not charge anything extra. If any theatre does that, public should lodge complaints with the authorities," he had said.
But theatre house owners do not seem to have bothered to heed his caution.
"The fan clubs have booked in bulk for their show at 10.30am on Diwali day. We have given them printed tickets only at `205 per ticket. We have no idea or control over what they do with that," Nikilesh Surya, government director, Rohini Silver Screens, advised TOI. "Since the government order for the new ticket rates was issued on Monday evening, we opened regular online bookings at night at the official rates plus taxes," he added.
The two-screen Vetri advanced in Chromepet, known for promoting tickets at top rates for large films, said in its authentic Facebook submit - "The first two shows on Diwali day have been allotted for fan clubs, industry friends and officials. Other shows on October 18 will open online tonight, while counter and online booking will start tomorrow (Tuesday) for shows from October 19...". The fanatics have hit out on the theatre control, with some equating the contention of "industry friends and officials" to "selling in black". At a few different suburban theatres in Chennai and in Kancheepuram district, ticket costs ranged around `400. "If somebody is violating, we can't help it. We can't comment on that also," Abirami S Ramanathan, president, Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners' Association, advised TOI.
The new ticket costs, as in step with the federal government order
issued on Monday shall be `50 and `150 for multiplexes,
`40 and `100 for AC unmarried displays, `30 and `80 for non-AC unmarried displays, but even so `25 and `75 for AC theatres in village panchayats and `20 and `50 for non-AC be uniformly charged at eight% for Tamil films and 20% for non-Tamil films, GST
shall be 18% for tickets priced beneath `100 and 28% for the ones priced higher.
The great Diwali rip-off
![The great Diwali rip-off]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
October 23, 2017
Rating:
