Classification of cinema theatres based on their facilities will be completed by October-end, Minister in charge of the Cinema portfolio K.B. Ganesh Kumar has said.
This was decided at a meeting the Minister held with representatives of the Kerala Film Exhibitors' Association, Kerala Film Producers' Association, and the Kerala Film Chamber here on Monday. The meeting also decided to do away with the reservation and service charges being levied from the public. Briefing reporters about the meeting held to end the impasse over the release system, Mr. Ganesh Kumar said the ‘wide release' of films will be introduced after grading the ‘A' and ‘B' class theatres in the State. The gradation will be based on the facilities offered to the public. This includes, air-conditioning, acoustics, projection, seating, toilets, and parking facilities, among others. Committees comprising a sound engineer, a civil engineer, a cameraman, a journalist, and a representative of the audience will visit the theatres to assess the facilities. The government will provide a questionnaire for the process. The government will discuss the draft report with the fraternal organisations and stakeholders before classifying the theatres. New releases will be permitted in theatres which get higher grades. In order to expedite the process, the State will be divided into three regions and three separate panels will inspect the theatres. There will be provisions for appeal against the panel findings. Ticketing machines will be set up in theatres to check tax evasion. Curbs will be placed on the non-tax revenue collected by the theatres. Prime consideration will be for improving audience facilities.
