Mblaze
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10,000 cinemas in India on strike
MUMBAI: Come February 23 and there will be a no-show on the silver screen across the country. Multiplexes and single-screen owners have decided to participate in a nationwide strike called by the Film Federation of India to protest against the government's proposal to bring the film industry under the purview of service tax.
There are around 10,000 cinemas in India. Deepak Asher, president of the multiplex owners' association, said: "All multiplexes in the country will be shut on February 23." The television industry, though, will not be affected.
Concerned, an industry source said, "It will get passed on to the consumer by way of higher ticket prices, which is not good for the industry.''
Distributor and exhibitor Ramesh Sippy said: "Single-screen theatres have already agreed to take part in the strike. A token strike will not have any impact; only an indefinite stir can work at this stage. The service tax will be a huge burden on producers.."
Association of Motion Pictures and Television Programme Producers president Ratan Jain said: "A token strike is certainly on but we are yet to decide on an indefinite stir."
It will be business as usual for the TV industry. Producer J D Majithia said: "We need to take permission from broadcasters before going on a strike. The TV industry operates 24x7 and we cannot stop work."
It’ll be a no-show at cinemas on Feb 23 - The Times of India
MUMBAI: Come February 23 and there will be a no-show on the silver screen across the country. Multiplexes and single-screen owners have decided to participate in a nationwide strike called by the Film Federation of India to protest against the government's proposal to bring the film industry under the purview of service tax.
There are around 10,000 cinemas in India. Deepak Asher, president of the multiplex owners' association, said: "All multiplexes in the country will be shut on February 23." The television industry, though, will not be affected.
Concerned, an industry source said, "It will get passed on to the consumer by way of higher ticket prices, which is not good for the industry.''
Distributor and exhibitor Ramesh Sippy said: "Single-screen theatres have already agreed to take part in the strike. A token strike will not have any impact; only an indefinite stir can work at this stage. The service tax will be a huge burden on producers.."
Association of Motion Pictures and Television Programme Producers president Ratan Jain said: "A token strike is certainly on but we are yet to decide on an indefinite stir."
It will be business as usual for the TV industry. Producer J D Majithia said: "We need to take permission from broadcasters before going on a strike. The TV industry operates 24x7 and we cannot stop work."
It’ll be a no-show at cinemas on Feb 23 - The Times of India
