Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Telangana Ticket-Hike Rules Win Guild Support, Producer Questions Revenue Sharing
Telangana has made new rules for Telugu movies that want to charge higher ticket prices.
Big-budget films will need government permission before raising prices.
One-quarter of seats must remain available at regular, non-premium prices.
Theatres can also show films five times a day.
The rules include a proposed fund to help film workers.
The Active Telugu Film Producers Guild supports the policy.
However, one producer worries that box-office earnings are not always reported reliably and that some expensive movies lose money.
The producer wants the government to take less from unsuccessful films and the full share only from major successes.
Telangana’s new policy requires eligible high-budget films to seek government approval before receiving ticket-price increases.
The policy reserves 25% of theatre seating for non-premium tickets and permits five shows daily.
A proposed welfare fund would support technicians, workers and other Telugu film industry professionals.
The Active Telugu Film Producers Guild welcomed the policy as support for investment, exhibition technology and industry sustainability.
A leading producer questioned the proposed 20% revenue contribution, suggesting lower payments for films that fail at the box office.
- Who
- The Telangana Government, the Active Telugu Film Producers Guild and a leading Telugu film producer are involved.
- What
- The government issued new rules governing ticket-price increases, theatre shows, seating, revenue contributions and a proposed worker welfare fund.
- When
- Under the Telangana Government’s latest Government Order; the articles do not specify its date.
- Where
- Telangana, in the Telugu film exhibition and production industry.
- Why
- The policy aims to support large film investments and modern exhibition technology while preserving audience access and supporting industry workers.
Industry Policy Supporters
Producer’s Concerns
Overall policy direction
Industry Policy Supporters
The Active Telugu Film Producers Guild views the rules as progressive and potentially beneficial for investment, modern exhibition, producers, exhibitors and workers.
Producer’s Concerns
The producer urged the Telangana Government to proceed cautiously, especially with revenue-sharing requirements.
Revenue contribution
Industry Policy Supporters
The policy includes a proposed revenue-sharing mechanism connected to films receiving enhanced ticket prices.
Producer’s Concerns
The producer argues that reported collections can be unreliable and that demanding a large payment from films that lose money may be impractical.
Payment structure
Industry Policy Supporters
The proposed mechanism is intended to link government revenue to films granted ticket hikes.
Producer’s Concerns
The producer proposed a flexible model: 5% or 10% for flops and the full 20% for blockbusters, to encourage producers to seek permission when justified.
- Approval requirement
- Eligible high-budget films must apply to the government before receiving enhanced ticket prices.
- Non-premium seating
- 25% of total theatre seating must remain in the non-premium category.
- Daily shows
- Theatres may hold five shows per day.
- Worker support
- The policy proposes a welfare fund for technicians, workers and other film professionals.
- Guild response
- The Active Telugu Film Producers Guild called the policy progressive and welcomed its broader industry measures.
- Producer’s proposal
- The producer suggested charging 5% or 10% for films that fail and the full 20% for blockbusters.
- Revenue concern
- The producer questioned the reliability of reported Telugu film collections and warned that losses could make payments difficult.