Producer AM Rathnam had earlier met Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy in May, seeking a hike in ticket prices for Hari Hara Veera Mallu (HHVM), anticipating a June release.
He also approached the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce to submit a similar request for Andhra Pradesh. However, with the film’s release suddenly postponed, those earlier applications are now void.
As the new release plan takes shape, the producer will need to file fresh requests for ticket price revisions.
What remains to be seen is whether Rathnam will push for premium pricing or settle for a standard hike.
Given the scale of the project and the need for recovery, especially in the Telugu states, insiders believe a normal hike might not suffice. Distributors are said to be relying heavily on elevated ticket rates to ensure profitability.
Though Hari Hara Veera Mallu is also set for a wide release in Hindi and other languages — and Pawan Kalyan’s rising popularity across India due to his Sanatana Dharma stance may aid nationwide appeal — the primary revenue is still expected from the Telugu states' theatrical run.