Declining Single-Screen Cinemas: 900 Theatres Shut Down in Maharashtra

Pune: The golden era of single-screen cinemas is fading, as multiplex expansion and government-imposed restrictions have put immense pressure on these establishments. Maharashtra, once home to 1,200 single-screen theatres, now has only 475 surviving, while around 900 have shut down. The pandemic further worsened their condition, with many theatres never reopening.

Challenges Faced by Theatre Owners

Single-screen theatre owners are struggling due to:

• Declining audience numbers, as moviegoers prefer multiplexes.

• High operational expenses and multiple taxes.

• Strict government rules restricting property usage.

• Theatre premises cannot be repurposed for other businesses.

• Owners cannot transfer licenses to family members.

• New buyers cannot transfer ownership of the license after purchasing a theatre.

Due to these challenges, theatre owners have requested:

• Easing of licensing laws.

• Permission to use theatre spaces for other businesses.

• Exemptions from entertainment taxes and other levies.

Government Steps In

To address this issue, Maharashtra's Cultural Affairs Minister, Ashish Shelar, recently held a meeting and instructed officials to:

• Assess the current status of single-screen theatres.

• Prepare a revival plan that could include:

• Reopening closed theatres with financial support.

• Screening only Marathi films in single-screen cinemas.

• Providing incentives to theatre owners.

This initiative could offer some relief to theatre owners struggling to survive.

Current State of Single-Screen Theatres in Pune

Pune has lost around 20-22 historic theatres, including:

Vijayanand, Neelayam, Lakshminarayan, Alka, Ratan, Vasant, Vijay, Alankar, Vaibhav, Minerva, Aryan, Prabhat, and others.

Many theatres never reopened after the COVID-19 pandemic.