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Not mincing words - The Rs 200 movie ticket cap from Karnataka Govt is stupid on so many levels. And below is an attempt to cover the facts and logic which have been murdered in this spectacular display of flawed, populist diktat that puts every lesson of economics to insult (yes, again, not mincing words). .. The sheer absurdity of a one-size-fits-all price is breathtaking. - Premium formats like IMAX and 4DX, which offer a vastly superior and technologically advanced viewing experience, naturally command higher prices, often ranging from Rs 600 to over Rs 2k - These formats require massive capital investment in projection, sound, and infrastructure Forcing an exhibitor to sell a Rs 1k experience for Rs 200 is not just price capping. It is a state-mandated charity that will inevitably lead to the shutdown of these premium screens, robbing audiences of choice and quality. Even a tiered-capping system would still be an overreach, but at least, it would have looked LESS STUPID. .. Moving on, this throwback to socialist-era price controls is baffling, especially when it equates a Rs 200 crore blockbuster in an IMAX theatre with a Rs 2 crore independent film in a single screen. This policy completely disregards the fundamental economics of film production. A producer who invests Rs 200 crore in a film, banking on star power, visual effects, and grand sets, relies on a flexible pricing strategy, especially during the crucial opening weekend, to recover costs and turn a profit. By imposing a rigid Rs 200 limit, the Govt is telling this producer that their high-risk, high-investment project has the same market value as a small-budget film. This disincentivises scale, ambition, and quality, pushing the industry towards mediocrity and ultimately harming the Kannada film industry it purports to protect. And that does not make cinema accessible - it's about killing the very industry it claims to support. .. Most perplexing is why the state Govt machinery believes its primary duty is to dictate the price of a movie ticket. This isn't a solution to a pressing problem - it is a misplaced priority. The move feels less like a well-thought-out policy and more like a populist gesture born from the minds of babus and babas completely detached from the creative and commercial realities of the film world. Period.