Despite a Telangana High Court order suspending a state government memo permitting enhanced ticket rates for Deputy CM’s film OG (They Call Him OG), theatres across the state are continuing to sell tickets at inflated prices.
The High Court on September 24 stayed a September 19 memo issued by the Home Department that had allowed a “benefit show” of Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s film at ₹800 (including GST) on Wednesday at 9 pm and authorised a hike of ₹100 in single-screen theatres and ₹150 in multiplexes from September 25 to October 4 across the state.
The suspension followed a petition filed by Barla Mallesh Yadav, who argued that the memo was illegal as the authority to revise ticket prices rests with the City Police Commissioner in Hyderabad and the Joint Collectors in the districts, not the Home Department.
“In the present case, the Commissioner of Police is empowered to fix the rates, but not the respondent No.1. Hence, the impugned memo dated 19.09.2025 is in contravention of GO Ms No.120, dated 21.12.2021,” the court observed. The court also directed the police to ensure that only audiences above 18 years are admitted, in line with the CBFC’s certification of the film. The matter is next listed for hearing on October 9.
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Despite the order, ticketing platforms and theatres are charging above the prescribed rates. On BookMyShow, multiplexes are selling OG tickets for around Rs 445 — nearly ₹150 more than the ₹295 ceiling under GO 120. Single-screen theatres are also charging ₹275, a full Rs 100 above the permitted ₹175.
Among those charging inflated prices are some of Hyderabad’s most prominent theatres, including Prasad’s Multiplex, Allu Arjun’s AAA Cinemas, Mahesh Babu-owned AMB Cinemas and national chains like PVR.
A group of five moviegoers told the media they paid ₹4,000 — ₹800 per ticket — for a benefit show at Prasad’s Multiplex on September 24 at 10:25 pm, underscoring continued violations of the HC order. With the government order suspended but violations persisting, enforcement by the Hyderabad police is expected to come under close scrutiny in the coming days.
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