Ram Charan’s much-awaited film Peddi will be released around the world on June 4, and we are seeing much buzz for it from the masses. Telugu movies are very popular in the United States, especially in North America, where Telugu movies bring in huge box office numbers. However, the ticket price in the US is still very high, and the Indian movie lovers living abroad are not happy.
Peddi is already in booking across many locations in the United States. The response from fans has been strong, but many of them were shocked that it was so expensive for the movie premiere and opening week shows.
According to reports, ticket prices for Peddi's premiere shows in the US have been fixed between 20 and 25 dollars, which roughly converts to around Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,350 in Indian currency. The regular ticket prices during the first week are also very high, ranging between 18 and 20 dollars.
What has surprised fans even more is the price of premium D-Box screenings for the movie. Tickets for these special screenings are reported to be as high as 42 dollars, which is very close to Rs 5,000 in Indian currency. Even Hollywood releases are priced lower than it is in several theatres, many social media users said.
In particular, fans have compared the pricing to Christopher Nolan’s upcoming Hollywood film The Odyssey, whose IMAX ticket prices come in at around 30 dollars in the US. Online discussion has intensified, and Telugu movie ticket rates are going up compared to other Hollywood blockbusters.
Indian cinema lovers in the US have been frustrated on social media platforms. Some joked that watching Peddi would cost more than buying tickets for two other movies together. Other people argued that although they are excited about Ram Charan’s film, the pricing might deter family audiences from viewing it in theatres on the opening weekend.
Despite the criticism, trade analysts think the film might still be able to get very high bookings because Ram Charan is already very popular amongst overseas Telugu viewers. With Telugu cinema having been so popular worldwide recently, distributors are really pricing tickets pretty aggressively for star-driven movies, especially in North America, where demand is still high.
The advance bookings in India have not yet opened, in advance but several press reports suggest that the price for premiere show tickets and special screenings could be higher than usual for premiere shows and special screenings in India. The makers are looking forward to grand premiere events in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana ahead of the official release date.
According to sources, premiere show ticket prices in India may be nearly double the regular screenings. Bengaluru, where tickets for non-Kannada movies are often priced at premium rates, is also expected to witness expensive pricing for Peddi shows.
Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, Peddi stars Ram Charan in a rugged rural avatar and Janhvi Kapoor as the female lead. And it has created huge expectations for the film’s mass action element, emotional story and Ram Charan’s transformation.
With only days left for release, all eyes are now on whether Peddi can justify the massive hype— and the equally massive ticket prices at the global box office.
