As Peddi gears up for its grand theatrical release, all eyes are not just on the film but also on the uncertainty surrounding its release strategy in the Nizam region. While the makers are hosting a massive pre-release event today and promotions have entered the final stage, a key issue remains unresolved.
In Andhra Pradesh, the situation is crystal clear. Advance bookings have already opened, and the government has approved both ticket price hikes and paid premiere shows. The first special screenings are scheduled to begin on June 3, with premiere tickets priced at Rs. 600.
For the first ten days of the film’s run, ticket prices have been fixed at Rs. 247.50 in single screens and Rs. 302 in multiplexes. From Day 11 onwards, rates will come down to Rs. 147.50 in single screens and Rs. 177 in multiplexes.
Interestingly, there were efforts to secure significantly higher premiere pricing as well as dynamic pricing permissions. However, no new GO was issued, and the final approved rates remain within the existing framework.
However, the picture in Telangana is totally different.
As of now, Peddi has not received permissions for either ticket price hikes or special premiere shows in the Nizam territory. This has created considerable tension within trade circles, as the region remains one of the most important markets for any big Telugu release.
Securing permissions for special shows and increased ticket prices in Telangana looks difficult as of now. In that scenario, Peddi’s first official show in TG may begin only with the regular 8 AM screening on June 4.
Such a situation would create both good news and bad news for Mega fans.
The positive side is that audiences in Andhra Pradesh would get the opportunity to watch the film a day earlier through premiere shows, allowing celebrations and social media reactions to begin well before the official release day.
The downside is the pricing difference. If Telangana continues with regular ticket rates while Andhra Pradesh audiences pay higher prices due to the approved hikes, fans in AP would end up bearing a significantly larger financial burden to watch the same film.
This has already triggered discussions among fans, with many questioning whether two neighboring Telugu states should have completely different pricing structures for the same film. At the same time, supporters of the pricing model argue that AP audiences are at least getting the advantage of watching Peddi a day earlier through premiere shows, which partly offsets the higher cost.
The biggest suspense now is whether the Telangana government will eventually grant permissions for premiere shows and ticket price hikes or whether Peddi will release there only through regular screenings at normal rates on June 4.
