Security experts slam the state’s stance, HC asks tough questions, and Mumbai demands answers

A day after the state government claimed that allowing outside food in multiplexes could create “security issues” and “chaos”, Mumbai has a few very basic questions regarding the government’s 180-degree turn on the matter
Chaitanya Marpakwar and Sunil Baghel (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 9, 2018)

1 People are frisked at the entrance of the multiplexes and their bags are scanned. If the cinema halls are inside a mall, the frisking and scanning takes place again. How, then, is food a security risk?

2 People can carry food on planes and trains. How does food become a threat only inside multiplexes?

3 Less than a month ago, during the monsoon session of the legislature, food and civil supplies minister Ravindra Chavan had said that starting August 1, people will be allowed to carry food inside multiplexes. Then, did the government wake up to the ‘food as threat’ angle suddenly?

On Wednesday, this newspaper carried a test drive to reveal how multiplexes were hiding behind the ‘lack of clarity’ excuse to not allow moviegoers to carry food, forcing them to pay twice or thrice the amount for food items that cost far less outside.

The state government has based its arguments against allowing outside food in multiplexes on the ‘opinion’ of the then Director General of Police Satish Mathur, who told Mumbai Mirror that his opinion was based on the Delhi Police chief’s order banning outside food and tiffin boxes in cinema halls after one such container had exploded in a movie hall in the national capital.

“We don’t have in place the kind of security setup wherein every item can be checked in movie theatres, and such checks would lead to huge queues. Unlike at the airport, where people report early, people show up at movie theatres even after a movie has started,” Mathur said.

Mirror has learnt that the office of the incumbent DGP, Dattatray Padsalgikar, has suggested modifications to the previous stance. Confirming the development, a Maharashtra Police source said, “The police can comment only on the security aspect of the issue. If at all outside food is brought to multiplexes, there are procedures for screening of such food and liquids. Keeping that in mind, some suggestions have been made on carrying out those procedures to ensure that if a decision is taken to allow own food and liquids, these measures will be in place. This will have to be done by the security staff of the movie theatres.”

Security experts slam the state, HC asks questions

Retired Indian Police Service officer K P Raghuvanshi, who served as the police commissioner of Thane and the state Anti-Terrorism Squad chief, said he “did not agree” with the government on the matter. “We have the technology, security apparatus, and manpower to check what people are carrying to a place designated to need security. The prices of food items in multiplexes are exorbitant, and the government should curb the rates or allow people to bring food from outside,” he said.

Consumer activist Shirish Deshpande termed the government stance as a “foolish argument”. “Whoever has given this opinion must explain how food becomes a security issue as multiplexes frisk customers and scan their bags. The state’s argument is not making sense,” Deshpande said.

In the high court yesterday, during the hearing of a public interest litigation filed by filmmaker Jainendra Baxi against the ban on carrying outside food and beverages inside the multiplexes, a division bench of Justices Ranjit More and Anuja Prabhudesai demanded an explanation from the state government.

“What security concern can be caused by food inside theatres? People are not prohibited from carrying food to any other public place besides cinema halls. If people can be permitted to carry home food inside the aircraft then why not to theatres?” the bench sought to know.

The court also dismissed the argument of senior advocate Iqbal Chagla, representing the Multiplexes Owners’ Association, that one could not cite his/her fundamental right to seek that he/she be allowed to carry food inside theatres.

Chagla had said that the price of food sold inside multiplexes was a commercial decision but the prohibition on outside food was because of security reasons. “Tomorrow, citizens will cite their fundamental right and want to carry their own drinks to the hotels and restaurants,” Chagla said.

The high court, however, noted that restaurants cannot be compared with multiplexes. “We are only on the issue of security since that is the state’s main argument. Explain to us what are the security problems that a person can cause by carrying food items from home into a multiplex. The food sold inside multiplexes is priced exorbitantly. Also, by prohibiting people from carrying food from home, you are compelling entire families to consume junk food,” the court said.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, which is at the forefront of the fight against multiplexes overcharging moviegoers, claimed the state government had arrived at a “settlement” with the multiplex owners. “Food and civil supplies minister Ravindra Chavan must give an explanation. We will continue our agitation unless there is a specific order from the court,” senior MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande said.

The lone voice in support of the government’s stance was of retired IPS officer M N Singh, who has served as Mumbai’s police commissioner. “What happens if someone is consuming meat while sitting next to a vegetarian inside a movie hall? Such a situation can lead to argument, chaos, and therefore this too can be a security issue. It will be difficult for the theatre managements to handle such situations,” Singh said.

Going a step further in defence of the government, he added that people who can afford expensive movie tickets can also afford the food items at multiplexes. “Those who cannot, need not go,” Singh said. — Inputs: Sagnik Chowdhury

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The movement is spreading

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the AAP government’s stand on a public interest litigation seeking framing of guidelines allowing movie-goers to carry food and beverages inside theatres.

The plea was moved by a lawyer, Ekta Singh, who alleged that she was not permitted to carry food items and water bottle inside a movie theatre in Delhi’s Jangpura locality. She has alleged that the food and drink that was available inside the theatre were over-priced.

25% To 30% Of Revenue From Food & Drinks
Mohua Das (THE TIMES OF INDIA; July 29, 2018)

"Why does popcorn cost so much at the movies?” The answer to this looming question —that has baffled cinema lovers and sparked tempers (and even threats and lawsuits in recent times) — is economics-driven and suggests there may be a method to the madness.

Multiplexes say they rely on concession stands to make their businesses sustainable. It keeps ticket prices lower, which opens up the plush plex experience to more price-sensitive people while the premium on frills translates into better profit from those willing to fork out extra for corn and cola.

A checklist of examples and best practices such as this have recently been handed to the state CMO in a letter from the Multiplex Association of India, TOI has learnt. The letter argues that allowing cinemagoers to bring in outside food and beverages could pose safety and security threats, health and hygiene hazards and wreck the viability of the business model on which multiplexes run, thus forcing them to shut down.

The usually reticent multiplexes were compelled to react after a disgruntled Jainendra Baxi filed a PIL last year in the Bombay High Court fed up of being frisked at movie hall entrances for food and drinks, a prohibition which he felt flouted an individual’s basic right to life. The PIL challenged the ban on outside victuals at multiplexes across Maharashtra while the court hauled up the state government to check the "exorbitant" rates at which food and beverages were being sold, often costlier than the movie ticket itself.

“Multiplexes operate on slender profit margins. Making money on popcorn in order to run these high-maintenance theatres has been an integral part of the business model across the world for decades,” says a representative of one of India’s leading multiplex chains, on condition of anonymity.

“Audited accounts of major multiplex chains show that theatres make as little as 5% profit, and food and beverage revenues account for about 25 - 30% of a multiplex operator’s revenues. A dent in that would wipe out even this meagre return and make it unaffordable for multiplexes to remain in business,” he states.

In 2001, the Maharashtra government had exempted multiplexes from entertainment tax completely for the first three years and up to 75% for two years thereafter to aid the movie industry. However, an implementation of 28% GST upped concerns. “With over 2 billion tickets sold annually, the cinema exhibition sector offers a backbone to the entire film industry contributing 70% of its revenues. How can they classify it in the same tax bracket as casinos, horse betting and sporting events? Fifty percent of what remains after paying GST goes to distributors and the rest covers electricity, manpower, air-conditioning and upkeep of the hi-tech facility. What are we left with?” he says.

While multiplexes agree that there are no laws to restrict patrons from bringing in their own nibbles and drinks into cinemas, they believe that such a move could pose major security risks. Citing past instances of guns and explosives smuggled into theatres in food containers including the 2005 blast at Liberty Cinema in Delhi when a bomb carried into the cinema in a tiffin box had exploded, killing one person and injuring 49, multiplex sources contend: “Cinemas don’t have airport-like technology or staff to detect all potential safety threats. It would also become very easy to slip in petrol, acid and alcohol disguised as water in bottles. Even airlines do not permit liquids above 100ml, despite their advanced security systems.”

Lifting the restriction on outside eatables would reduce health and hygiene levels too, they argue. “We provide essential filtered water free of cost. But cinema food is prepared in a manner that is not too pungent, noisy or of a texture that would soil carpets or seats. All that would change if patrons were allowed to bring in their own fare. Turnaround time between two shows in a cinema is limited, and it would be impossible to maintain a clean, healthy and hygienic environment – that is a multiplex’s strong suit,” he adds.

As multiplexes continue to feel the pinch - or rather the punch - of the PIL they are hopeful that the government will rethink any call for change to current processes, and also keep in mind the "private and contractual nature of a movie ticket" that binds a patron and a theatre owner in a voluntary agreement to certain terms and conditions of admission, waiving which would unlawfully impinge on their fundamental right to business. “In a free market economy, prices are decided by demand and supply. It’s the same reason why a bowl of dal at a luxury hotel is differently priced than a dhaba or why ink cartridges cost as much as printers. Any attempt by the government to control prices would destabilize business models,” cautions the multiplex representative suggesting that a move in such a direction would compel existing cinemas to fold up.

Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; April 8, 2017)

They made their Kanga League debut together and broke into the Indian cricket team just a few years apart. Now, just a few days after Sachin Tendulkar unveiled his song, Sachin’s Cricket Wali Beat in association with Sonu Nigam, the Master Blaster’s childhood friend Vinod Kambli is set to launch his debut single, Asa Mee… Mee Asa.

While their friendship may have suffered a dent over the years, he claims, “I liked Sachin’s song, but it was only on cricket. My track, on the other hand, is all about my life.”

Kambli has rapped in Marathi and shot the music video across various locations in Mumbai. “Director Jainendra Baxi and Rahul (Seth, R& B singer-songwriter) approached me for the single. I had met Rahul at a function and he came up with the idea of doing something together. Jai’s idea was to include a Maharashtrian folk angle to the song.”

Kambli says he has covered all aspects of his life in the song. “The teaser is out and people have appreciated it. We are still working on the special effects and will release it sometime next week,” adds Kambli.

What about his look in the song? “Jai wanted me to look like a rapper. I have three looks in the single that go well with the peppy song. My children have already started dancing to the tunes.”