When cable stopped cinemas were full

MUMBAI, AUG 25: When cable-operators in Maharashtra were on strike on Tuesday and Wednesday, most of the cinemas numbering 1,113 ran housefull.

According to prominent film-distributor Balkrishna Shroff, there was an increase of 40 per cent collections in almost all the theatres in the State. 8220;My rough estimate is that box-office collections might have increased at least by Rs three crore in two days. Since the State Government is a sleeping partner in our collections, it might have been benefitted by Rs 1.2 crore by way of entertainment tax,8221; he said.

8220;This hike in theatre-collection by 40 per cent is because the cable TV networks did not show latest released films which they are showing illegally. It should be an eye-opener to the Government that if it stops video-piracy, its revenue by way of entertainment would shoot up at least by 40 to 50 per cent every day. We have made several represenations but the governemnt is blind to our plea,8221; he pointed out.