Theatre owners fume at govt’s surgical strike; State: Screen ‘Uri’ Free Of Cost On Friday, Kargil Divas
Bella Jaisinghani (THE TIMES OF INDIA; July 25, 2019)

Mumbai: Some theatre owners were unhappy on Wednesday after the state government instructed single screen theatres and multiplexes to screen a morning show of the film ‘Uri, The Surgical Strike’ free of cost on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas on July 26. The picture celebrates the success of the Indian Army against Pakistan in the 1999 Kargil war.

Multiplexes have been instructed to make arrangements with distributors to download a print of the film, and submit seating capacity of their morning shows to the Collector by Thursday morning. Theatre owners in Mumbai and Pune confirmed receiving the order.

“We have been instructed to screen ‘Uri’ free of cost at 10am for college students who arrive with identity cards, as well as for former defence personnel,” said Manoj Desai, executive director of G7 Multiplex and Maratha Mandir.

He showed TOI the letter which states that this screening was an initiative of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, and was intended to motivate youngsters to join the defence forces.

Desai said, “We are also ‘deshbhakts’ (patriots). But is this the proper way (for the authorities) to enforce ‘deshbhakti’? Ordinarily, if I permit a patron to enter without a ticket, I am liable to forfeit my licence. It is illegal to hold shows without tickets. And here the government is making you do so. Moreover, we will not only have to refund patrons for scheduled screenings but also defer ensuing shows as the film will spill over into their timings.”

He asked who would foot the electricity bill for lights and air-conditioning as they must screen for free. He pointed out that the government levies GST on film screenings. “I have written to the collector, saying that if the government demands GST on these free screenings, his office will have to pay. I will not pay a penny,” Desai said.

Another vexed issue is filling up seats for a morning show by getting enough students to turn up. “The suburban collector on Wednesday called a meeting of principals of Bandra colleges and urged them to ensure they send pupils for the shows,” said an exhibitor.

Suburban collector Milind Borikar said, “Our education officers are reaching out to colleges and appealing to them to send students en masse to see the film that day. It is our national duty to remember the sacrifice of our soldiers and celebrate the victory. As for the issue of GST recovery, we will discuss the matter with the government as it is for them to take a policy decision.”

Some multiplexes believe they will have to allot all halls for the 10am show, but Prakash Chapalkar, general secretary of Multiplex Association of India, denied it. “Just one screen must be reserved. We have decided to not object as this is the first time the government has made such a request. Also, no major releases are scheduled this Friday. Only ‘The Lion King’ enters its second week. Since the intention is noble, we will cooperate.”