The Telangana High Court on Friday, September 26, 2025, extended its interim stay on the State Government's controversial order permitting a special late-night show and enhanced ticket pricing for the Telugu big-budget film Ojas Gambheera (marketed as They Call Him OG). The decision came after arguments from multiple sides, including the film's producers, cinema hall representatives, and the petitioner, who claimed the order was arbitrary and unfair.
Background
The dispute began when the State Home Department issued a memo on September 19, 2025, allowing DVV Entertainments, producers of OG, to screen a special show at 9:00 PM on September 24 with a premium ticket price of ₹800. Additionally, the government sanctioned a temporary hike of ₹100 for single-screen theatres and ₹150 for multiplexes across Telangana from September 25 to October 4.
Barla Mallesh Yadav, a Hyderabad-based petitioner, challenged the order through a writ petition (WP No. 29214 of 2025), arguing that the decision was arbitrary, illegal, and violated Article 14 of the Constitution which guarantees equality before law. Yadav claimed the hike hurt ordinary moviegoers and bypassed the government’s own standing orders on cinema pricing.
Court's Observations
The matter had earlier been remanded to the single judge bench by a division bench after an appeal by DVV Entertainments. When the case resumed, Senior Counsel Avinash Desai, representing the production house, argued that the government had acted within its rights under Section 12 of the A.P. Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1955. He pointed out that such exemptions were necessary to prevent black marketing during festival seasons.
"The film is mounted on a massive budget. Without some flexibility, piracy and black ticketing would thrive," Desai submitted.
On the other side, counsel for the petitioner maintained that the order violated an earlier government notification (G.O. Ms. No. 120, dated December 21, 2021), which clearly capped ticket prices and directed transparency in billing.
"Despite a subsisting order, the State rushed to issue this memo. No valid reasons were recorded for this sudden increase," argued the petitioner's lawyer.
Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar noted that the government’s memo indeed seemed inconsistent with its own standing orders and earlier High Court directions.
The judge remarked that the Special Chief Secretary
"ought not to have issued the impugned memo prescribing the rates" when a binding order already existed.
Adding to the complexity, the counsel for Sudarshan 35MM theatre, which had already sold tickets at the enhanced rates, warned that cancellation or refunds would cause heavy losses. Senior Counsel S. Niranjan Reddy stressed,
"At this stage, undoing ticket sales will severely hit stakeholders. Financial impact on theatres and distributors cannot be ignored."
Decision
After hearing all parties, Justice Kumar observed that the government had not even filed a counter to justify its memo, despite repeated directions. The court underlined that compliance with its earlier orders was mandatory and that arbitrary departures would not be tolerated.
"In view of the same, the interim order dated 24.09.2025 passed by this Court in W.P. No. 29214 of 2025 is extended till the next date of hearing," the bench ordered.
The matter is now listed for October 9, 2025. Until then, the special pricing arrangement for OG remains suspended, and theatres must comply with the regular ticket rates as per G.O. Ms. No. 120 of 2021.
Case Title: Barla Mallesh Yadav v. State of Telangana & Others
Case Number: Writ Petition No. 29214 of 2025