Mumbai theatres closed in protest

MUMBAI, AUG.9. Movie buffs in the city had to forgo watching their favourite stars in action today as nearly 130 theatres in the metropolis and adjoining Thane district downed shutters to protest Maharashtra Government's decision to grant tax exemption to multiplex theatres in the State.

Some of the city's prominent cinema houses, including Metro, Regal and New Empire which often run to packed houses, wore a deserted look today with the theatre owners refusing to screen any film protesting against the ``partisan attitude'' adopted by the government. The decision to close down the theatres was taken at an emergency meeting of the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association of India and the Theatre Owners' Association yesterday.

A resolution passed at the meeting said ``the policy of granting tax relief to multiplexes will sound the death-knell of all single screen cinema halls in the State''. The Maharashtra Chief Minister, Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh, had announced at a conference organised by CII on Tuesday that multiplex theatres in the city would enjoy total tax exemption for three years and 25 per cent exemption in the subsequent two years.

The exemption was applicable to multiplexes with minimum of four viewing screens and seating capacity of over 1,200.

- PTI

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