The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday evening released the new GO mentioning the cinema ticket prices that single screens and multiplexes ought to follow in the State. The rates were accompanied by a list of specifications that have left many baffled.

As per one of the guidelines, theatres can screen five shows but there is a condition. Small films that have been made on a budget of less than Rs 20 Cr should be mandatorily given at least one screening from between 11 am to 9 pm even on festival days regardless of the high demand for a big-budget movie. This is a terrible quota policy. How is it expected to play out? Suppose a Raj Tarun movie were to be released on the day of a Prabhas movie, a theatre has to screen at least one show of the former as per the new guideline. Otherwise, the theatre will stand to lose the right to screen five shows.

Why is the government concerned about promoting so-called low-budget movies? A producer who spends Rs 20 Cr on a new hero who happens to be his son or relative is indulging in luxury. He deserves no quota; he is not an underdog or something. Cinema halls that have been in the lurch because of the pandemic need support, not a cash-rich producer.

There is another complicated rule that arrogates to the bureaucracy the right to behave arbitrarily. As per the new rule, high-budgeted movies made at a cost of more than Rs 100 Cr (excluding the fees of hero, heroine and director) can charge higher ticket rates. These rates are notified by the government on a case-by-case basis. This benefit is allowed only if the movie has been shot to the tune of 20% of production works in AP.

How is the government going to assess the claims made by the producer about the budget? Why should ticket rates be decided on a case-by-case basis? Will a pro-government hero get better rates than an anti-government hero? Questions abound.

It appears that the Jaganmohan Reddy government doesn't want Tollywood to sleep in complete peace for now.