Benefit shows: Growing threat in TFI

The concept of organising special screenings in the name of benefit shows has been in vogue since long in Film Industry. But here is a new threat emerging in the form of ‘Controlled Screenings’ where the distributors are alleged to have been blocking the tickets and selling them in black market for high prices.

We already witnessed this kind of trend for ‘Baahubali’. Now it’s the turn of Mahesh’s ‘Srimanthudu’. Benefit shows and controlled screenings of the film are going to be organised on Thursday whereas the regular screenings for audiences would begin from Friday.

According to the available information, the distributors have already blocked some shows for ‘Controlled Screenings’, which means higher ticket rates, as far as Rs.1500 for each ticket. A die-hard fan of Mahesh would want to see the movie on the first day itself helping the distributor to make the most on opening day.

It’s no different in case of overseas distribution market even. ‘Srimanthudu’ overseas Thursday premiere show tickets are being sold at $25-30 for each ticket and the release day (Friday) prices would be around $18 bucks for each ticket. Which means that a family in overseas needs at least $100 bucks to watch a Telugu movie.

Well, that’s not a great trend though. It’s more like encouraging black marketing and exploiting the die-hard fans in the name of premiere shows. Tollywood ticket control can become a big threat to the system if this continues.