Staging of a protest by audience during the matinee show of a new release at Devi Multiplex against the non-functioning of air-conditioners in the recent past is a classic example of the raw deal allegedly being meted to film-goers in Kakinada.
Despite revising the entry tickets time and again, most of the cinema hall managements fail to provide basic facilities to them. At a time when the cinema halls are turning into multiplexes, there is a steady increase in the number of complaints from the film-goers.
“When they are collecting Rs.90 per entry ticket, it is their responsibility to ensure that the air-conditioners function properly. Otherwise, they must accept their failure and refund the ticket amount,” says V.B. Rama Rao of Vidyut Nagar, the man who initiated the dharna in the multiplex. The ire from the audience, however, has not stopped the management from continuing the show.
“There is a long list of problems of theatre managements. There is a drop in the occupancy and raise in power tariffs and power cuts as well,” says M.V.L. Narasimha Raju (Pradeep), president of East Godavari Film Exhibitors Association.
The competition among cinema halls is forcing the managements to focus on renovation while a few managements opted to convert their cinema halls into function halls.
“The expenditure remained same for each show notwithstanding the occupancy. Of late, there is a steady drop in the viewership owing to television and other sorts of entertainment,” he points out.
The managements also blame poor quality of films for failing to attract the public. “Though a good number of films are being released every years, there are only a few blockbusters,” observes G. Nanaji, proprietor of Sripriya-Padmapriya twin theater complex. “What is wrong in expecting value for money? All we need are the basic facilities in the cinema hall to enjoy the movie in a comfortable manner,” says Mr. Rama Rao.
