Andhra government approves ticket price hike for Kantara Chapter-1

The Andhra Pradesh government has taken a broad and inclusive view by approving the hike in ticket prices for the Kannada film Kantara Chapter -1, directed and acted by Rishab Shetty.

Sources said some people from the Telugu film industry objected to the proposal citing the hurdles faced by Telugu films in Karnataka, including denial of higher ticket prices besides removal of posters/banners and earlier incidents during the release of RRR, Game Changer, Hari Hara Veera Mallu and OG.

But the Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan contented that art is meant to unite people, not divide them by language or regional barriers. They made it clear that there is no need to treat non-Telugu films differently in the state. Just because Telugu cinema encounters difficulties in Karnataka, it is not appropriate to create problems for Kannada films in Andhra Pradesh, they said.

Mr. Pawan Kalyan, after discussing the issue with the Minister for Cinematography Kandula Durgesh and officials of the department, stressed the importance of generosity and national integration. He recalled how Telugu audience have always embraced Kannada stars, from Rajkumar to present-day actors like Kiccha Sudeep, Upendra, Shivarajkumar and Rishab Shetty, with brotherly affection.

He is of the view that the film industries of both the states should resolve commercial disputes like ticket pricing by sitting together and only then the governments could step in. “For now, Andhra Pradesh will not obstruct Kantara Chapter-1 or any Kannada film, despite issues faced by Telugu films in Karnataka,” he said.