After being closed following a series of raids by the revenue and police officials for the last few weeks, theatres in Andhra Pradesh have got a breather ahead of the release of some big films in the New Year.
State minister for cinematography Perni Nani said the theatres which were seized on charges of violation of rules like lack of facilities for the audiences, collection of excess charges for snacks and soft drinks and lack of sufficient parking space could be reopened after paying certain amount of penalty to the officials.
“Such theatre managements should submit an application to the joint collectors saying they would rectify the mistakes in the theatres, besides paying penal charges,” he said.
Similarly, the theatres which have not renewed their theatre licences and also fire safety licences, would be given a month’s time to renew their lapsed licences.
“Otherwise, the joint collectors are empowered to take action against the threatres as per the law,” he said.
The Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce issued a statement thanking chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy for giving a month’s time for renewal of licences of cinema theatres and reopening of theatres after paying penalty.
The chamber also thanked the ministers and officials concerned who took the issue to the notice of the chief minister. It requested the government to resolve the cinema ticket rates issue and other such problems.
Meanwhile, the 13-member committee headed by principal secretary (home) would hold a virtual meeting on Friday to look into the requests of the film industry for upward revision of cinema ticket rates. It would also look into the classification of cinema theatres as per their location.
