Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma asked Minister Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani) a series of questions regarding the ceiling for movie tickets “set” by the government of Andhra Pradesh.

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Mr Varma took to Twitter on Tuesday and asked, “Dear Minister of Cinematography Perni Nani, sir, I humbly ask you or your representatives to answer the following questions, sir. What precisely is the role of government in determining the market price of any product, including films, sir? “

He added, “I understand that the government can step in and set a price below or above the equilibrium when there is a severe shortage of an essential commodity like wheat, rice, oil, etc., but how does this apply to movies? “

He also asked why the government is subsidizing movie tickets on health and education service lines if it believes movies are essential for the poor.

He then asked the minister if he was considering setting up “ration theaters” like ration shops for the distribution of rice and sugar.

Mr Varma also proposed a “solution” whereby the government and producers can share tickets and sell at prices they like and secure their votes and investments respectively.

“I ask you to understand that your government has been given the power to support from below and not to sit on top of our heads. Thank you very much, ”he said, addressing Minister Nani.

It also appealed to the film industry. “This is not my request but my request to all my colleagues in the film industry to speak out on their true feelings on the issue of ticket prices, because if you don’t speak now you will never be able to speak.” , did he declare.

Meanwhile, the state government had responded to calls from producers, distributors and exhibitors and reconstituted the committee to recently discuss movie ticket pricing and related issues.

The committee includes representatives from the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce, distributors, exhibitors and moviegoers as members as well as government officials.