Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a cap of Rs 200 on the price of movie tickets in the state including in multiplex during the 16th Budget presentation in the assembly. The CM additionally announced the launch of a dedicated OTT platform to promote Kannada films, as part of Rs 4.095 lakh crore Budget for the year 2025-26 and the Budget has also allocated Rs 51,034 crore for the state government’s five flagship guarantee schemes.
Notably, leading Kannada actors and producers, including Rakshit Shetty and Rishabh Shetty, voiced their frustrations over the lack of support from major OTT platforms for Kannada content.
Thus, in July 2024, the Shetty’s launched their web series Ekam on their platform itself, having failed to secure another online streaming partner. To support Kannada cinema, CM has also set aside Rs 3 crore to create an archive of Kannada films so that the works which convey the culture, social and historical heritage of the state can be preserved.
In Addition What CM Siddaramaiah Announced Besides agreeing to grant industry status to the cinema industry that will enable them to avail of the benefits under the Industrial Policy as per their demands in favor of the cinema sector, CM Siddaramaiah also proposed the construction of a multiplex complex on 2.5 acres dedicated to the Karnataka Film Academy at Nandini Layout through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
The CM further announced that 150 acres of land in Mysore has been allotted to the Department of Information and Public Relations to set up an international-standard Film City with an investment of Rs 500 crore under the PPP model.
