Kerala Government Today (Aug 11) told the High Court that a special committee has been formed to control cinema ticket prices, including multiplexes using dynamic pricing. The panel will study and recommend new rules within three months.
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KOCHI: The Kerala Government has officially told the Kerala High Court that it has set up a special committee to look into the control of cinema ticket prices across the State.
This will also include examining the dynamic pricing system used by popular multiplex chains such as PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, where ticket rates change depending on demand, time, and release date.
The update came through an affidavit filed by the State government in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Manu Nair G.
The PIL challenges the practice of increasing movie ticket prices in multiplexes without any government limit.
The case was heard by a Bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji. On Monday, the Court directed the State to submit a memo along with the official Government Order (GO) which shows the formation of the committee. The matter will be heard again on August 14, 2025.
According to the affidavit filed by Rajee R Pillai, Under Secretary of the State’s Cultural Affairs Department, the government is taking the problem of unregulated movie ticket prices seriously. The State admitted that at present, the Kerala Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1958 and the 1988 Rules do not have any proper legal system to control or cap ticket rates.
Before the Goods and Services Tax (GST) came into effect, local self-government bodies used to decide ticket prices while giving licences to theatres, considering the entertainment tax. But after GST was introduced, this control shifted to theatre owners themselves, which led to the growth of dynamic pricing in Kerala.
The government also revealed that early talks have started about making a proper regulatory system. This system would divide cinema theatres into different categories depending on their facilities and services.
Once this is done, maximum ticket rates would be fixed for each category, and theatre owners could then set their own ticket prices but only within those limits.
“The theatre owners may decide the rates based on the maximum rates fixed by the regulatory body however these are only discussions at the preliminary stage and a detailed study and discussion is needed. it is submitted that the state govt is looking into this matter and evolving a method by way of a policy decision to regulate the pricing,”
-the affidavit stated.
The affidavit further explained that this process would need detailed study and multiple rounds of discussion, which would take at least three months.
It also confirmed that a seven-member committee has already been formed through a Government Order dated July 26, 2025.
The committee is headed by the Chairman of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation and includes:
- The Chairman of the Kerala State Chalachithra Academy
- The Chairman of the Kerala State Cultural Activists Welfare Fund Board
- The Secretary of the Kerala State Chalachithra Academy
- A representative from the Local Self Government Department
- A representative from the Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation
- The Managing Director of the Kerala Film Development Corporation, who will act as the convenor
In the PIL, the petitioner argued that cinema ticket rates are being increased without any control, especially in the first few weeks of a film’s release. Prices change based on time slots, demand, and release status — all without any approval from licensing authorities.
The petitioner also pointed out that this practice violates Article 14 of the Constitution, since many other States like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu already have government orders fixing maximum ticket prices.
The PIL requested the Kerala Government to immediately frame a regulatory policy and also put a temporary stop to dynamic pricing until the policy is ready.
- Advocate Manu Nair G appeared in person for the case.
- The State Government was represented by senior government pleader Thushara James.
- Senior counsel Santhosh Mathew along with advocates Aswin Gopakumar, Anwin Gopakumar, Aditya Venugopalan, Mahesh Chandran, Saranya Babu, Gopika BS, Abhishek S, and Rohit P appeared for FICCI and the Multiplex Association of India.
CASE TITLE:
Manu Nair G v. State of Kerala & ors.
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