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Multiplexes obey government order, cap tickets at Rs 200

[email protected] (DHNS)
May 5, 2017

Bengaluru, May 5: Multiplexes and other cinema halls on Thursday implemented the state government order’s that caps tickets at Rs 200. They are, however, yet to enforce the other order on compulsory exhibition of Kannada and regional language films on at least one screen during prime time (1.30 pm to 7.30 pm).

MultiplexesThe multiplexes implemented the order on ticket cap soon after receiving the notification from Information Department. “We are law-abiding companies. Since the government issued the order, we had to implement it,” Deepak Asher, Chairman, Multiplex Association of India, told DH.

But he said it would discourage multiplex chains from doing business in Karnataka. “No new multiplexes may be opened in Karnataka while the existing ones could be closed down. Besides, there won’t be any investments in the screening of high-end technology films. We request the government to withdraw the order,” he said.

As multiplexes fell in line, tickets were priced between Rs 260 and Rs 265 (including 33% entertainment tax). But Gold Class tickets, which are exempt from the cap, continue to be exorbitant. They are priced between Rs 650 and Rs 1,500.

Theatres with IMAX (widescreen cinematography producing images 10 times larger than standard 35 mm) and 4DS (technology that allows a film to be augmented with environmental effects such as seat motion, wind, rain, fog, lights, and scents) are exempt, too.

While executive class tickets have been slashed by about 40%, normal class tickets were hiked by an equal percentage. Clearly, multiplexes are trying to make up for the loss. Tickets for the two classes were priced between Rs 240 and Rs 264. The new prices will continue for the weekend (Friday to Sunday).

Multiplexes are yet to implement the order on compulsory screening of Kannada and regional language (Tulu, Konkani, Beary, Kodava and Banjara) films. It’s unclear what multiplexes should do when there are not enough films in Kannada or regional languages.

“We will call a meeting of multiplexes and the Kannada Film Chamber of Commerce to decide this,” a senior official said. “While the important order that directly affects the audience has been implemented, we will give more time for implementation of the second order.”

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Agencies
August 3,2020

Patna, Aug 3: Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey on Sunday charged that Vinay Tiwari, the IPS officer from Patna who is in Mumbai to probe a case related to Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death, has been "forcibly quarantined" by civic authorities in the metropolis.

Tiwari is heading a Bihar Police team which is in Mumbai to investigate an ''abetment to suicide'' case on the basis of a complaint filed by the late actor's father in Patna.

"IPS officer Vinay Tiwari reached Mumbai today from Patna on official duty to lead the police team there but he has been forcibly quarantined by BMC officials at 11 PM today," Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) Pandey tweeted.

"He was not provided accommodation in the IPS mess, despite request, and was staying in a Guest House in Goregaon," he said.

Sushant's sister Shweta Singh Kirti has tweeted, " What? Is this even for real? How can an officer sent on duty be quarantined for 14 Days?".

Rajput, 34, was found hanging from the ceiling of his Bandra residence on June 24 last.

Last month, Rajput's father lodged an FIR here of abetment to suicide naming actress Rhea Chakraborty, said to be close to the deceased Patna-born actor, and her family members as accused. Tiwari was posted as the City SP (East) in Patna.

The Mumbai Police, which is also probing the death case, have so far recorded statements of nearly 40 people, including those from Rajput's family, his cook and people from the film industry that include filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, film critic Rajeev Masand, director-producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali and filmmaker Aditya Chopra.

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Agencies
July 25,2020

Mumbai, Jul 25: Movie theatres have been shuttered for months due to the coronavirus pandemic in the country, but the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has now recommended that the Union Home Ministry allow cinema halls to reopen in August. 

I&B Secretary Amit Khare indicated this at a close-door industry interaction with the CII Media Committee on Friday. He said Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla at the Home Ministry would take the final call.

Khare said that he has recommended that cinema halls may be allowed to reopen all over India as early as August 1, or at the latest, around August 31.

The formula suggested is that alternate seats in the first row and then the next row be kept vacant, and proceeding in this fashion throughout.

Khare said that his ministry's recommendation takes into consideration the two metre social distancing norm, but tweaks it gently to two yards instead. The Home Ministry, however, still has to revert on the recommendation.

Cinema owners, present in the interaction, however, pushed back and said this formula is unwise and merely running films at 25% auditorium capacity is worse than keeping the cinemas shut.

The attendees at the meet included media CEOs like N.P. Singh of Sony, Sam Balsara (Madison), Megha Tata, (Discovery), Gaurav Gandhi (Amazon Prime), Manish Maheshwari (Twitter), S. Sivakumar (Bennett Coleman and Co Ltd), and K Madhavan, Star & Disney, and also Chairman, CII Media Committee.

The OTT platforms present, including Gandhi of Amazon Prime, did not push back. Some Bollywood producers, notably those of Amitabh Bachchan's Gulabo Sitabo, have posted their movies on OTT, rather than live out the lockdown uncertainty.

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Agencies
July 19,2020

Mumbai, Jul 19: Mumbai Police have registered an FIR against two Instagram account holders for allegedly threatening actor Rhea Chakraborty, an official said on Sunday.

The location of the two accused is yet to be traced, the official said, adding that the investigation in the case is at primary stage.

Chakraborty on Thursday requested the cyber crime cell to look into the rape and murder threats she has been receiving ever since the death of close friend, actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Rajput, 34, was found dead in his apartment in suburban Bandra here on June 14, leaving people in the film industry and audiences shocked.

Chakraborty, in particular, was subjected to online hate with users blaming her for Rajput's suicide.

"We registered the First Information Report (FIR) on Saturday under Indian Penal Code Sections 507 (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication), 509 (intending to insult modesty of any woman) and relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act," Santacruz police station's senior inspector Shriram Koregaonkar said.

"No arrest has been made so far. We are conducting an investigation in the case," he added.

On Thursday, sharing a screenshot of a hate message she received on Instagram, Chakraborty said while she had ignored many abusive texts sent to her in the past month, the harassment was now unbearable.

The 28-year-old actor eventually disabled the comments section of her Instagram page.

Chakraborty, known for films such as "Mere Dad Ki Maruti" and "Jalebi", had tagged the cyber cell and requested the authorities to look into the threats.

On June 18, she was called to the Bandra police station to record her statement in connection with Rajput's death.

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