For many movie goers the news would dampen their weekend. Perish the thought of carrying outside food into multiplexes in Maharashtra. Most multi-screen owners are yet to receive an official notification from the state government.



Nitin Datar, executive committee member of the Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India, said that since there is no official order from the Bombay High Court or the Maharashtra government for food to be allowed inside the theatres, multiplexes would not allow people with food to enter the premises.



Barring a few theatres like Sterling Cineplex near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus station or the Regal Cinema near Gateway of India, most are waiting for an official notification from the Maharashtra government.



Last month the Maharashtra government had announced that from August 1 film goers would be allowed to carry outside food to a film theatre. Multiplex owners were also warned not to charge more than the maximum retail price (MRP) on food items.



Sterling Cineplex which started allowing patrons to enter theatres with food since August 1, said that patrons cannot just buy food outside and come and eat there. What they are allowing is home-cooked food in lunch boxes only.



PVR, one of the largest multiplex chains in the country, said that since the matter was sub judice they would not like to comment; but they too are waiting for an order from the court or government.



The multiplex owners said that they are waiting to see if the notification from the government would have any specifications like if patrons can have food inside the theatres or be restricted to just the lobby.



"As of now, if the seats get damaged by food spilling, then the stall owner is responsible for it. If someone gets food from outside and damages the seats then who will pay for that?" asks Datar of the Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India.



He also raised the issue of security saying that there has to be mechanism developed to see that security lapses do not happen. "How do we check whether someone is bringing in water, alcohol or has some drugs in it, which will be given to people around? All these issues need to be kept in mind," he said.



In Mumbai there are 75 single-screen theatres and 150 multiplex screens. Across Maharashtra there are 470 screens. Multiplex Association of India (MAI), another representative body, said that multiplex owners are still waiting for the order to be given before they embark on the process of allowing patrons with food.



In July, Maharashtra Food and Civil Supplies Minister Ravindra Chavan had said that action would be taken against multiplexes that did not allow patrons to bring their own food and water from August 1.



"The minister has said in the House that action would be taken; but in spite of that if theatres are not allowing then it reflects negatively on the government," advocate Aditya Pratap said. He has been arguing the public interest litigation (PIL) filed against the ban of outside food in cinema halls.



The PIL will now be heard by the Bombay High Court on August 8.

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