NEW DELHI: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Friday announced that movie ticket prices across the state, including in multiplexes, will be capped at Rs 200.
Presenting his 16th budget, he also revealed plans to launch a state-run OTT platform to promote Kannada cinema.
Leading Kannada filmmakers, including Rakshit Shetty and Rishab Shetty, had recently voiced concerns about the lack of interest from major OTT platforms in acquiring Kannada content. In response, Siddaramaiah emphasized the need for a dedicated platform to support regional films.
Notably, Rakshit Shetty’s production house, Paramvah studiohad to launch its own platform in July 2024 to stream its web series Ekamafter failing to secure an OTT deal.
The CM has allocated Rs 3 crore for creating a digital and non-digital archive of Kannada films, aiming to preserve works that showcase the state’s social, historical, and cultural heritage.
Addressing industry demands, Siddaramaiah also granted the cinema sector the status of an industry, making it eligible for benefits under the Industrial Policy.
Additionally, a multiplex complex will be developed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model on a 2.5-acre plot owned by the Karnataka Film Academy in Bengaluru’s Nandini Layout.
Furthermore, to establish an international-standard Film City in Mysuru at an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore, 150 acres have been allocated to the Department of Information and Public Relations, the CM announced.
