Big Cine Expo puts ‘affordability’ on agenda
The Chennai trade show’s programme slotted a panel on making cinema affordable. The industry talking point is written down; the outcomes aren’t.
Affordability featured on the Big Cine Expo 2026 agenda; commitments were not published.
News, not a miracle. The Big Cine Expo 2026 programme lists a Day 1 panel on August 18 (11.00–11.45 am) at Chennai Trade Centre titled “RECLAIMING THE MASSES: MAKING CINEMA AFFORDABLE IN THE CURRENT ERA.” The organiser’s line: “affordability has become central to attracting and retaining cinema audiences.”
The agenda runs through smarter pricing, data‑driven scheduling, right‑sized formats, tech‑enabled ticketing, targeted promotions, subscriptions, flexible F&B, curation, dynamic and neighbourhood pricing, and the OTT fight. The framing promises a balance — “make cinema more accessible without compromising profitability” — which is tidy in a brochure and harder at a box office.
Named on the panel: Akkshay Rathie (Aashirwad Theatres), Anish Patel (Connplex Cinemas), Devang Sampat (Cinépolis India), Lovey Dua (District Movies), Rahul Puri (Mukta A2), Thomas D’Souza (PVR‑INOX). Moderator: Vanita Kohli Khandekar. That is the programme; no transcript, quotes or commitments are published. Christie, a tech partner, confirms being at Chennai Trade Centre on August 18–19, which supports the dates, not what was said in that room.
For Telangana readers: this is industry agenda‑setting, not policy. No Telangana‑specific data, pricing orders or exhibitor commitments appear in the material reviewed, and no Telugu exhibitor is identified on this panel. If anything concrete emerges — tickets, F&B, subscriptions, district pricing — that’s the story. Until then, affordability is officially on the programme. Delivery, as usual, is TBA.