Bengaluru’s movie fans might catch a break on ticket prices—for now. The Karnataka High Court stepped in on Tuesday, putting a temporary halt to the state government’s push to limit movie tickets to 200 rupees in multiplexes and cinema halls across the state.
A bench led by Justice Ravi V. Hosmani delivered the interim stay after hearing arguments from cinema industry players. The Multiplex Association of India and other petitioners had rushed to court, challenging the Karnataka Cinemas (Regulation) (Amendment) Rules 2025. They say the government’s price cap violates the original Karnataka Cinemas (Regulation) Rules 1964 and was slapped on without talking to business owners or stakeholders.
This comes just days after the court reserved its verdict on September 16. Senior lawyer Mukul Rohatgi, representing the association, called the new rule “unjustified and arbitrary.” He argued that fixing tickets at 200 rupees ignores what fans really want. “Why cap it when people are happy to pay more for luxury seats or better experiences?” Rohatgi asked. He compared it to forcing all airlines to fly economy class only, stressing that businesses pour money into cinemas expecting to set prices based on market demand and service levels.
Rohatgi also pointed out that the government tried something similar back in 2017, but the High Court struck it down, forcing officials to back off. Hundreds of cinema operators, from big multiplex chains to local halls, say the cap would hurt their bottom line hard. They urged the court to pause the rule until a final ruling.
Another top lawyer, Dhyan Chinnappa, speaking for film producer Hombale Films, slammed the move as “totally illegal,” saying it’s just a sneaky way to rewrite rules under the guise of an amendment.
On the government’s side, Additional Advocate General S. Ismail Zabiulla defended the cap as a smart step to make movies more affordable for everyday people. He noted that the state has the constitutional power to regulate prices, and a law like this can only be tossed if it oversteps rights or fairness.
The controversy kicked off when the Congress-led Karnataka government announced the 200-rupee ceiling—excluding taxes—on September 13. Officials updated the Karnataka Cinema (Control) Rules 2014 to launch these Karnataka Cinemas (Regulation) (Amendment) Rules 2025, aiming to help families enjoy big-screen entertainment without breaking the bank.
There’s a key loophole, though: Small premium screens in multi-cinema setups with 75 seats or fewer can keep their higher prices and skip the cap. As the legal battle heats up, cinema lovers in Bengaluru and beyond wait to see if blockbuster tickets stay budget-friendly or bounce back to premium rates.
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