The Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed the state government to restrict the increased ticket prices for the much-anticipated films Game Changer and Daku Maharaj to a period of ten days. This decision was made in line with previous rulings on similar cases and applies to these current releases as well.
Details of the Case
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by Guntur-based Arigela Srinivas, challenging the state government’s decision to allow extended higher ticket prices and additional shows for these films. The petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Gundala Sivaprasad Reddy, argued that the government had permitted a 14-day window for increased ticket prices, allegedly influenced by the familial connections of the films’ lead actors with the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister.
The petitioner also highlighted a tragic incident where two individuals lost their lives in a road accident while traveling to the pre-release event of Game Changer. He requested the court to ban midnight premieres of films, citing safety concerns.
Court’s Observations
The High Court bench, comprising Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Cheemalapati Ravi, took note of the arguments but dismissed the correlation between the road accident and the premiere shows. In an analogy, the court remarked, “This is akin to requesting a halt to rocket launches in Sriharikota because of accidents occurring en route.”
Final Orders
While the court acknowledged the arguments regarding ticket price regulation, it ruled that the increased pricing should be limited to ten days, as per existing norms. The hearing for the PIL has been adjourned, with further orders to follow.
Background and Implications
The controversy surrounding these films has intensified due to the high-profile nature of their lead actors and their familial ties to political figures. Both Game Changer, starring Ram Charan, and Daku Maharaj, featuring Balakrishna, are expected to dominate the Sankranti festival box office. The High Court’s decision seeks to balance public interests with the commercial ambitions of the filmmakers.