Ticket prices of CE and 'Once Upon will go up

A hike in ticket prices, especially for big-ticket films released during the festive season, is not new. But this Eid, it seems, will witness an unprecedented rise in ticket rates for movies like Chennai Express and Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobaara.

In Mumbai, ticket prices will see a rise of approximately 40% on weekdays and 20% on weekends. Vishal Anand, senior vice-president, operations, Fun Cinemas says, "The jump during weekdays is largely due to the reduced pricing for films that lack in strong content." Currently, the weekday pricing in city multiplexes is about 110.

Anand defends the move, saying, "Prices are hiked at the time of big-film releases. Traditionally, Eid has been a very strong period as far as admits are concerned. During that one week of Eid, we expect to do more than half the month's business. A week after Chennai Express, we have Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobaara releasing, so August is going to be the strongest month as far as business is concerned. Shah Rukh Khan is hitting theatres after a year and history shows that Rohit Shetty's films have not gone wrong at the box office. We hope to make merry at the window."

Let alone multiplexes, even single-screen theatres will hike ticket prices. Nitin Datar, vice-president, Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association, says, "It will happen, but the rate depends on the terms set between the distributor and exhibitor and the location of the cinema hall."

The trend of hiking prices started with 3 Idiots, when plexes raised weekend ticket rates by 15 to 20. Soon, the trend caught on. Says a source, "The ticket prices of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewaniwere also hiked, but it was rolled back after a week. That's what happens in most cases."