₹2000 for a ‘Coolie’ ticket: Bengalureans shocked at exorbitant rates for Rajinikanth’s film

The ₹200 price cap on movie tickets continues to be a dream for film lovers of Bengaluru. In July, the State government had issued a draft notification on capping cinema ticket prices. However, the ticket rates for the upcoming Rajinikanth biggie, Coolie, has left people surprised and shocked in equal measure. The movie will hit the screens worldwide on August 14, 2025.

On Saturday, August 9, 2025, advance bookings opened for the upcoming movie in Karnataka, with the Lokesh Kanagaraj-directorial setting a box office record within minutes. In 30 minutes, around 10,000 tickets were sold with 66 shows, making Coolie the fastest film ever to touch the figure at the Bengaluru box office.

What caught people’s attention was the whopping price range for the early-morning shows (between 6.00 a.m. and 7.00 a.m.) at single screens. The maximum amount was ₹2,000 at the Swagath Shankar Nag on M.G. Road for Gold Recliner seats, with the other seats being sold at ₹1,500 (Gold) and ₹1,000 (Silver and Lounge).

At Lakshmi Cinema in Taverekere, Diamond class seats were priced at ₹1,000 per ticket, while Gold Class ones were priced at ₹800. Across Bengaluru, the average price for all the early-morning and morning shows was ₹400-500. Few more single screens are likely to add early-morning shows at ₹1,000 per ticket in the coming days.

On social media, theatres drew criticism for the exorbitant ticket rates. Tamil Nadu, Rajinikanth’s fortress, is charging not more than ₹200 per ticket, including one of the biggest multiplexes in India, Mayajaal, in Chennai.

ALSO READ: Karnataka issues draft notification on capping cinema ticket prices at ₹200

Bengaluru has remained infamous for high-priced movie tickets. In the Budget for 2025-26, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had announced that the cost of a ticket of any show in all theatres of the State, including multiplexes, would be capped at ₹200. On July 14, the government had given a notice of 15 days to those likely to be affected by the rule. However, there has been no new announcement on the matter from the government.