When Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah paid INR 1,000+ to watch Baahubali 2 on May 1

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly paid Rs 1,000-plus to buy a ticket for Baahubali 2 (Bahubali: The Conclusion) on May 1, the day on which he was supposed to cap ticket prices.

Enough has been written and spoken of about the trouble for the release of Baahubali 2 and its exorbitant ticket prices in the state. In his budget session, Siddaramaiah announced that there would be a cap on ticket price (maximum of Rs 200), which would be implemented from April 1. But it did not come into effect. Later, it was reported that it would be implemented from April 27, a day before the release of Baahubali 2.

The CM, who was under pressure from the Kannada film industry, was supposed to sign the order related to cap on the ticket prices, but he left for his Dubai trip on the same day without signing it. It was rumoured that the cap on ticket prices implemented from May 1. However, the Karnataka government once again failed to do it and the movie buffs had to pay over Rs 500 for tickets in several multiplexes.

Siddaramaiah's grandson Vikas, the son of late Rakesh, also watched Baahubali: The Beginning and was impressed with it. He reportedly insisted his grandfather to accompany him to the movie. Hence, the CM decided to watch it on Monday after returning from Dubai.

Along with his second son Yathindra and Vikas, Siddaramaiah went to watch Baahubali 2 at Orion Mall Bangalore. The CM was accompanied by 48 people, including KPCC president and Home Minister G Parameshwara and Infrastructure Development Minister Roshan Baig. Since he wanted to keep the matter under the wraps, he reportedly went in a private vehicle to the multiplex.

According to Vijay Karnataka, nearly 50 tickets were booked for the CM's team well in advance and each of them cost Rs 1,040. After finishing his family commitment, Siddaramaiah reportedly went for a private screening of the Kannada film Niruttara at Chamundeshwari Studios. Niruttara has been produced by Kannada actress Bhavana, who is also an active Congress member.

However, it was rumoured that the cap on ticket price would be implemented from May 1. Many film-goers in Bengaluru, who could not afford exorbitant ticket prices over the weekend, dreamt of watching Baahubali 2 after Monday. But they are disappointed over the multiplexes continuing with high ticket prices on Tuesday, May. As per BookMyShow, ticket prices were as high as Rs 700 for the SS Rajamouli-directed film.