Kerala is set to modernize its cinema sector with a statewide e-ticketing system.
The Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC) and Digital University of Kerala have signed an MoU to build the platform, aiming for transparency, real-time sales data and smoother revenue management.
The system, expected by February 2026, will simplify bookings and offer audiences a seamless experience while helping theatre owners and distributors.
This initiative marks a major step in digitising film operations and strengthening Kerala’s cinema ecosystem for the future.
Well, this is something even the YSRCP government had planned to introduce in Andhra Pradesh during its tenure between 2019 and 2024.
Similar to Rentrak in the USA, Jagan Mohan Reddy’s government had proposed such a system, but the hand in glove function between certain officials and film producers prevented it from materialising.
An e-ticketing system would bring complete transparency to the film business, curb tax evasion, and prevent inflated box office figures. Footfalls could be accurately recorded to measure a film’s real reach.
For instance, the footfalls of Mirai may exceed those of OG in a given time, even though OG shows higher collections due to ticket price hikes. Such parameters would reveal a film’s true performance.
In India, the film industry is a huge business, but with the current government in Andhra Pradesh favoring certain producers over transparency, such reforms may not arrive soon.
If implemented, e-ticketing would expose the genuine strength of every star without bloated numbers or fake collection ads.
As of 2023, the Indian film industry achieved a record-breaking gross box office revenue of Rs 12,226 crore (approximately $1.47 billion), marking a 15% increase from the previous year.
In 2024, the Indian film industry achieved a total gross box office revenue of Rs 11,833 crore (approximately $1.36 billion), making it the second-highest-grossing year in its history
As Indian cinema generates a huge market running into tens of crores, the central government may take the initiative to bring transparency to the system.
Will that happen? We will have to wait and see. |
