Hyderabad/Chennai, Dec 11, 2025: Just hours before its highly anticipated release, Akhanda 2: Thaandavam encountered another major hurdle as the Telangana High Court struck down the state government’s order permitting paid premiere shows and a temporary hike in ticket prices. The ruling, issued late on Thursday, effectively stopped the film’s planned 8 pm paid premieres and cancelled the proposed price increase across theatres.
The setback followed a lunch-motion petition filed by advocate Srinivas Reddy, who challenged the government’s approval that allowed premiere tickets priced at ₹600, in addition to an increase of ₹50 in single screens and ₹100 in multiplexes for the first three days. Acting swiftly, the court agreed to hear the plea immediately, leading to the cancellation of both the special screening and the revised ticket slabs.
The now-scrapped directive had also mandated that 20% of the additional revenue generated through the price hike be contributed to the Movie Artistes Welfare Association. With the ruling in place, uncertainty looms over whether this contribution will still apply and how theatres plan to deal with any premiere tickets already sold.
Telangana HC Blocks Paid Premieres for Akhanda 2
The film, scheduled for a worldwide release on December 12, has been grappling with a series of hurdles ranging from legal entanglements to financial bottlenecks. The latest order adds yet another complication as the makers brace for opening day collections without the boost of paid premieres.
Starring Nandamuri Balakrishna in a triple role, alongside Samyuktha, Aadhi Pinisetty, and Harshali Malhotra, Akhanda 2 has already begun drawing strong early reactions. Social media reactions from select preview viewers describe the film as a full-fledged mass entertainer packed with aggressive dialogues, elaborate fight sequences, and a high-voltage climax.
Akhanda 2 : Fans Call It “Pure Goosebumps”
One early viewer called it a “Paisa Vasool Mass Entertainer for hardcore Balakrishna fans… with action, loud dialogue baazi, and a citti maar climax strictly for the masses.”
Another reaction noted, “Akhanda 2 delivers madness, mass, and magic! Balakrishna is unstoppable… the BGM is electrifying, the action is top-tier. First half—pure goosebumps; second half, extraordinary.”
In a parallel development, the Madras High Court earlier in the day cleared the film for release after Eros International Media Limited and 14 Reels Entertainment reached a settlement in their long-standing dispute over a 2019 arbitral award. The conflict had revolved around the payment of ₹27.7 crore with 14% interest, which Eros had sought to enforce through two Section 9 petitions. Justice N Anand Venkatesh had dismissed those petitions in October, and Wednesday’s settlement finally closed that chapter.
With both courts delivering contrasting orders on the eve of release, Akhanda 2 now heads into its opening day amid renewed uncertainty—but with considerable fan hype intact.