Mumbai: The Multiplex Association of India (MAI) has urged the government to move cinema tickets priced up to Rs. 300 into the 5% GST slab, arguing that such a shift would improve affordability and give exhibitors the confidence to expand screen infrastructure in smaller towns and cities.

The association has reached out to members of the GST Council and written to the information and broadcasting and finance ministries regarding the demand. Currently, tickets priced above ₹100 attract 18% GST, while those below Rs. 100 are taxed at 12%, a structure introduced in 2018.

"Our request to the government is that this Rs. 100 should become Rs. 300. Tickets up to Rs. 300 should fall in the 5% category. Anything higher than Rs. 300 could be in the 18% category," said Kamal Gianchandani, president of MAI and CEO of PVR Inox Pictures.

The 56th meeting of the GST Council will be held in New Delhi on the 3rd and 4th of September. The government is considering reducing the existing four-tier GST structure of 5%, 12%, 18% and 28% to just two slabs of 5% and 18%.

"Since PM Modi has spoken about GST rate rationalization to improve affordability, the cinema sector is a fit case, an obvious candidate to have a rationalization of GST," Gianchandani said.

The industry argues that the current framework no longer reflects ground realities. The dual GST structure was decided in 2018, but since then inflation has risen, Covid-19 disrupted the industry, and consumer behaviour has shifted with the acceleration of OTT adoption.

"A Rs. 100 ticket is no longer realistic. Even Rs. 200 is considered normal due to inflation. To support the sector, the cap should be raised to Rs. 300. Bollywood employs thousands directly and indirectly, and multiplexes are an important medium to reach audiences. At a time when the industry is facing challenges, such support is critical," said Rohit Jain, deputy managing partner at Economic Laws Practice, which has been assisting MAI by drafting representations and engaging with stakeholders.

On the impact of a GST reduction, Gianchandani said the tax gap on a Rs. 300 ticket is Rs. 40, or about Rs. 160 for a family of four, calling it significant.

Standing: (L-R) Mrinalini Khanna, VP, Originals, Lionsgate, Rohit Jain, MD, Emerging Markets Asia, Lionsgate, Tanuj Garg, Managing Partner, Ellipsis Entertainment; Sitting: (L-R) Atul Kasbekar, Managing Partner, Ellipsis Entertainment, Amol Parashar, Shreya Dhanwanthary and Abhimanyu Dassani

Close to the announcement of its first feature film, Letters To Mr Khanna, starring Neetu Kapoor, Sunny Kaushal and Shradha Srinath, Lionsgate India Studios ventures into comedy with its second film, Nausikhiye. Directed by Santosh Singh, the movie brings together new-age actors Abhimanyu Dassani, Amol Parashar and Shreya Dhanwanthary. Building on its content slate, the studio aims to bring diverse content to its wide audience in India.

Ellipsis Entertainment will produce the film written by Chirag Garg and Avinash Dwivedi. The comic caper chronicles the story of two wedding crashers who accidentally steal a bride, triggering a zany cat-and-mouse chase across the countryside.

Rohit Jain, MD, Emerging Markets Asia, Lionsgate, said, “We are constantly investing in curated content for our dynamic audience in India. Staying true to this, we’re back with another exciting feature film in the comedygenre that is urban, relatable, and fun. We believe this genre is the need of the hour, post pandemic. We aim to explore new and exciting genres to diversify our slate of content to provide our audience with a holistic entertainment experience. We’re sure that this film, helmed by Santosh Singh and a stellar cast, is going to be a full-house entertainer and will be one of the many successful stories produced by the Lionsgate India Studios.”

Standing: (L-R) Milind Dhaimade, Rohit Jain and Mrinalini Khanna; Sitting: (L-R) Sunny Kaushal, Neetu Kapoor and Shraddha Srinath

Film and television studio Lionsgate has made a quiet, but impactful entry in India. Known for its compelling content, the studio over the past year has catered to both contemporary Indian audiences as well as its global audience through its OTT platform, Lionsgate Play. Since last year, it has produced a unique slate, from an urban slice-of-life comedy Hiccups & Hookups to intense young adult drama Jugaadistan and the bromantic hangover of four boys, Feels Like Home.

In India, the studio is selecting stories that resonate with an eclectic global audience. Taking it up a notch, the studio announced its first feature film starring Neetu Kapoor, Sunny Kaushal and Shraddha Srinath. This untitled, coming-of-age story will capture the beautiful and relatable relationship between a mother and her son. Using comedy as its main premise, the film delves into the integral fabric of families, communication and memories, as well as their role in forcing us to grow up. Directed by Milind Dhaimade, the film promises to leave audiences wanting to see more family dramas.

Rohit Jain, MD, South Asia and Networks Emerging Markets Asia, Lionsgate said, “Our studio remains bullish on investments in India spotlighting the region in the global growth strategy. Lionsgate Studios in India is delighted to announce its maiden Hindi film. With Milind at the helm, each character has been cast perfectly to depict this beautiful story that we’re sure audiences will love. We are running at a rapid pace with 8-10 grand projects in the pipeline. Within a year, expect big announcements to come your way from our desk.”

Mrinalini Khanna, VP, Originals, Lionsgate said, “We’ve always supported different creative voices and visions. This film is a beautiful amalgamation of that. We hope that the film is received with the same love with which it’s being made. It’s a wonderful opportunity to work with Milind and a dream cast.”

Pop culture may have us believe that college life is about young love, designer brands and all things hunky-dory. But director Akarsh Khurana is exploring its gritty side with Jugaadistan. The Lionsgate Play series, starring Sumeet Vyas, Parambrata Chatterjee, Arjun Mathur and Rukshar Dhillon, does away with the rose-tinted glasses through which campus capers are often seen, and instead depicts how college politics and jugaad dominate these years.

The show is a change of pace for Khurana, who earlier helmed the feel-good Mismatched. “While I have done youth-centric offerings before, this was a different take on it. [It shows] the darker side of our college years, and Delhi like we don’t see it often [on screen]. We delve into an array of issues — college politics, student dynamics, side-incomes — all of which are significant in how people’s lives are shaped in their formative years. I enjoyed the track of investigative journalism that runs parallel to the student shenanigans,” he says.

Jugaadistan is the OTT platform’s second Indian original after Hiccups and Hookups (2021). Rohit Jain, MD, south Asia and networks, Lionsgate, says, “With Hiccups and Hookups, we explored modern family dynamics; this time, we take a real tour of campus life.”

Mrinalini Khanna, VP, originals, adds, “The team has [depicted] the innocence of growing up and the seriousness of making life-changing decisions.”