The Diwali festivities are just around the corner and as it happens each year, there will be a few major film releases in line with this festive season – Housefull 4, Made In China, and Saand Ki Aankh. Unexpectedly however, the ticket rates for these movies have been fixed to match the prices of War which was recently released on October 2 starring Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff. The War release saw immense buzz due to it being released on a national holiday that is Gandhi Jayanti. On the contrary, Housefull 4 isn’t releasing on a holiday but four days before one making some question whether raising the rate for these three days when footfalls may be low due to pre–Diwali and Diwali activities is wise decision or not.
Raj Bansal, the proprietor of Entertainment Paradise in Jaipur, firmly disapproved when he stated: “I believe it was a bad call to have made. With high–profile films, maintaining ticket rates as they were during their preceding successful run is an established convention. However, raising Housefull 4’s admission fees to War’s levels on what is anticipated to be a slow weekend should have been avoided.“
Manoj Desai, the executive director of Mumbai’s G7 multiplex (widely known as Gaiety-Galaxy cinema complex) has traditionally resisted the inclination to raise ticket prices – yet more often than not, he must submit to those demands. He explains: “We were compelled to raise the rates because distributors were blackmailing us – if we didn’t do it, we would never get their movies. Diwali is an occasion no one wishes to ruin.“
Prashant Solanki, the General Manager of Cine Park, Valsad firmly maintains that ticket prices for Housefull 4 are in line with War. He further states that had they been higher, it would have impacted viewers adversely; however since they remain unchanged, there is no concern.
Vishek Chauhan, the proprietor of Roopbani cinema in Bihar, shares that they have not been asked to set their rates at War’s level and as such are charging regular blockbuster prices as instructed.
