Pawan Kalyan justifies ticket price hike as revenue booster for AP
Vijayawada: Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan defended the increase in ticket prices for certain films, highlighting that the 18% GST levied on tickets contributes significantly to the state’s revenue. He cautioned against the black-market sale of tickets, stressing that such transactions result in unaccounted money.
Speaking at the pre-release event of Ram Charan’s Game Changer, set to release on January 10 in Rajahmundry, Pawan urged filmmakers, producers, and industry representatives—not actors—to approach the government for permissions regarding ticket pricing. He appealed to fans to prioritise safety and avoid stampede-like situations during film-related events.
The Deputy Chief Minister emphasised the importance of original and value-driven storytelling in films, urging filmmakers to guide the youth positively and keep politics out of the industry. He advocated unity among Indian cinema industries, lamenting their division into Bollywood, Tollywood, Kollywood, and Mollywood since the 1990s, and stressed the need for discipline within the film fraternity.
Pawan credited stalwarts like Raghupathi Venkata Naidu and Dadasaheb Phalke for their foundational contributions to Indian cinema, urging current filmmakers to remember their roots. He thanked Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for supporting the event in Rajahmundry and expressed gratitude to Chiranjeevi for his unwavering support throughout his career.
Reflecting on his journey, Pawan revealed that the remuneration from Vakeel Saab, produced by Dil Raju, helped sustain the Jana Sena party. He also lauded veteran actors, including NTR, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Krishna, and Sobhan Babu, along with the younger generation, for their efforts in elevating Telugu cinema.
Concluding his address, Pawan wished Game Changer immense success at the box office, expressing hope it would set new records.
