After theatres in the US announced that they would offer movie tickets for a price as low as $3 (Rs. 239, approx) on their National Cinema Day on September 3 (the usual average price is about $9. 17 or Rs. 731), the Multiplex Association of India (MAI) and cinemas across the country have also decided to celebrate a ‘National Cinema Day’ in India on September 16 and offer tickets for Rs. 75.

Currently, the average ticket price across Mumbai is in the range of Rs. 200-400. Around 4,000 screens across the country, including major chains like PVR, INOX, Cinépolis, Carnival, Miraj and Citypride, Asian, Mukta A2, Movie Time, Wave, M2K, and Delite, are among those that will sell tickets at Rs. 75 on the day.

“National Cinema Day will bring together audiences of all ages to enjoy a day at the movies. It also celebrates the successful reopening of cinemas and is a ‘thank you’ to the moviegoers who made this happen. It is an invitation to those moviegoers who haven’t made it back to a cinema near them, yet,” the MAI said in a statement.

The association also claimed that India saw one of the sharpest recoveries in the film exhibition business, globally. It added, “The first quarter of the Fiscal Year 2023 has recorded impressive numbers among cinema operators on the back of global and local tent poles that resonated with the Indian audience. The quarter was marked by the release of some of the biggest domestic hits like KGF: Chapter 2, RRR, Vikram, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Hollywood hits like Doctor Strange and Top Gun: Maverick.”

Kamal Gianchandani, President, MAI, told us, “This Rs. 75 ticket offer will be applicable in IMAX, 4DX and all other mainstream formats, and all the films which will be available in cinemas during that week. While luxury formats will not be included in this offer, those will also be available at discounted prices. Cinemas in the US, UK and European countries, along with the Middle East, are also celebrating National Cinema Day with similar offers. We have chosen September 16 to celebrate cinema, and we believe that even families which have not stepped out to watch films in a long time will also visit cinemas for this event.”

Over 3,000 movie theatres across US are offering tickets for $3 (Rs. 239, approx) on their National Cinema Day on September 3. The UK cinema associations too created UK’s own National Cinema Day on September 3, and cinemas in European countries and the Middle East have followed suit.