Highlights
- HC suspends government approval for a special premiere on Sept. 24
- Proposed ticket hike of up to $9.60 per seat also struck down
- Fans and makers left in uncertainty ahead of Sept. 25 release
Court intervenes ahead of release
In a late-night decision, the Telangana High Court halted plans for a special premiere of They Call Him OG, the much-anticipated action drama starring Pawan Kalyan. The show, scheduled for Wednesday at 9 p.m., had been cleared by the state government with tickets priced at $9.60 (₹800).
Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar issued an interim suspension of the government’s order, blocking both the premiere and the proposed temporary hike in ticket prices. The ruling came just hours before the show was set to begin, leaving fans and the film’s team in limbo.
Ticket hike plans overturned
The September 19 government order had allowed single-screen theaters to raise ticket prices by $1.20 (₹100) and multiplexes by $1.80 (₹150) for shows between September 25 and October 4. Alongside, the makers were granted approval for a one-off special show at the premium rate. The High Court, however, stayed both permissions following a petition challenging the order.
Fans left disappointed
The decision sparked disappointment among fans who had already purchased tickets. Adding to the frenzy, reports surfaced earlier this week of a fan, Amudala Paramesh from Choutuppal, spending a record $1,560 (₹1,29,999) on a benefit show ticket during an auction in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district. That benefit show, scheduled for 1 a.m. on September 25, is also under a cloud following the court’s order.
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Big-screen debut and cast
Directed by Sujeeth, They Call Him OG features Pawan Kalyan in the lead alongside Emraan Hashmi, who makes his Telugu film debut. The ensemble also includes Priyanka Arul Mohan, Arjun Das, Sriya Reddy, and Prakash Raj. Despite the legal hurdles, the film is slated for nationwide release on September 25.
