The impending shutdown of Regal has brought to the fore the problem of running a single-screen theatre in the city. Increasing overheads, advanced and cheaper modes of entertainment, and no help from the government are gradually sounding the death knell for the theatres, which once had an ubiquitous presence across the city.
In Mumbai alone, the number of single screens have shrunk from 125 theatres to a mere 60 in the last 15 years. Maharashtra boasted of 1,200 theatres, however, the number has dropped to 470 theatres, informs Theatre Owners Association head Nitin Datar.
The cinema business primarily revolves around producers, distributors and service providers. The theatre revenues and profit share is decided by the producers depending on the footfall and success of the film.
"The government rules do not allow us to have any other business except theatre on the land. We have to pay a slew of taxes including property tax, GST and money for procuring a host of No Objection Certificates. There is no extra FSI to utilise the real estate space for profits. It is increasingly difficult to sustain," says Datar.
A single-screen theatre like Regal conjures images of nostalgia, majesticness and opulence of a bygone era. When it began in the 1930's, it used to have a unique style of neon lighting, which saved electricity as well as lit up the outlines of the art décor building.
"The upper balcony meant for the crème de la crème of the city had a soda fountain, the first theatre to have a pantry with ice cream served in wine glasses. It was also the first theatre in south Mumbai to have an underground parking," informs Dr Lopamudra Maitra Bajpai, visual anthropologist. Some owners are still positive and feel that single-screen theatres can survive despite challenges.
"People want good cushioning, good seats and clean toilets to patronise any theatre. It is not so difficult to maintain a single-screen theatre," concludes Manoj Desai, executive director of Maratha Mandir single-screen theatre.
