Naga Chaitanya’s Thandel which also stars Sai Pallavi, is set to release on February 6. Directed by Chandoo Mondeti and produced by Bunny Vasu under the Geetha Arts banner, the film has been made on a budget of approximately ₹90 crores.
Early reports suggest that the non-theatrical rights have already earned more than half of the total budget, with ₹50 crores already recovered. The remaining 40-45 crores is expected to be recovered from theatrical business. For this to happen, Thandel needs to do a worldwide business of 90-100 crores gross.
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However, a controversial move by the producers has raised eyebrows. They have requested the Andhra Pradesh government to increase ticket prices for the film. The government has given a green signal for a hike, allowing single theaters to charge ₹52 per ticket and multiplexes to charge up to ₹75.
While such hikes are typically seen for big-budget films during festive periods, many are questioning the rationale behind increasing ticket prices for a mid-range film like Thandel, especially since it stars Naga Chaitanya who is not considered a box-office giant.
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Trade experts believe that high ticket prices for Thandel, releasing in February, could discourage audiences from going to the cinema, as it’s not a prime month for movie-goers.
Even seasoned producers like Allu Aravind, known for their experience, may have overlooked the risk of pushing the audiences away with high ticket prices.
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This can prove to be a dangerous and risky move, especially if the content doesn’t match the publicity done by the makers.
