
The much-anticipated film Thandel, starring Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi, is currently awaiting government approval for a ticket price hike in Andhra Pradesh.
Interestingly, the situation has flipped compared to previous trends—while Telangana used to implement ticket hikes under KCR government, Andhra Pradesh is now considering hikes, while Telangana is not.
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But is it really necessary to increase ticket prices for a film featuring a tier-2 hero like Naga Chaitanya?
Though Thandel has a budget of ₹90 crore, it’s still considered a medium-budget film due to Naga Chaitanya’s market value. Such hikes could kill medium-budget films.
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The recent blockbuster Sankranthiki Vasthunnam proves that films can succeed at existing or slightly increased ticket prices. The key is to cater to all sections of the audience with reasonable rates.
If Thandel offers strong content, it could become one of the top grossers among tier-2 heroes, even with existing ticket prices.
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Audiences are willing to watch even average films at reasonable rates, but with ticket hikes, they expect extraordinary content. If the film doesn’t meet those expectations, viewers may skip it in theaters.
If the hikes are approved, they could discourage audiences, prompting many to wait for the film’s OTT release instead.
Ultimately, the focus should remain on delivering solid content rather than relying on price hikes to boost box office collections.