Watching movies could be dearer

HYDERABAD: Watching a movie in a theatre could be a nice way to round off a holiday, but it could now burn a deep hole in your pocket. Theatre managements are pressing for a hike in maintenance charges.
Currently, Re 1 is being collected from audience towards maintainance of theatres.
The Hyderabad State Film Chamber has asked for a hike of Rs 2 to Rs 3 in the charge as the managements are reportedly finding it difficult to maintain the premises with meagre funds.
The escalating costs and dwindling audience has made the exhibitors jittery and was the prime reason for the latest demand.
"Earlier, we used to maintain the theatre with the Re 1 collected from the audience. While there is a steep decline in the number of people at theatres, the cost of maintenance has more or less remained the same," a cinema representative said.
With both Telugu and Hindi films, produced by big banners and big producers with popular star cast, taking a beating at the box office, the attendance at theatres has nearly become a trickle, he said.
Moreover, the pirated VCDs have further made people to keep away from theatres, a theatre manager said.
"We do not mind if there is a slight increase in rate of admission provided the movie halls are maintained well. It is unfortunate that most theatres, barring a few, are not properly maintained. Stinking toilets, torn seats and unclean premises with pan and guthka stink greet us at theatres," D Ravi, a regular cinegoer, said.
The revenue department has reportedly given the green signal to the proposal with a rider that the hike should not have a negative impact on the entertainment tax collections.
When contacted, principal secretary (home) A K Tigdi said the proposal was still pending with the government and it has to be passed through the finance, revenue and home and cinematography departments before the approval.