The Hindu Business Line : FICCI calls for standardisation of cinema rules

New Delhi, Sept. 2 To give a fillip to the multiplex industry, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry has called for standardisation and modernisation of cinema regulations under a Central Uniform Cinema Code to be applicable across the country.

The archaic laws governing regulation of cinema and a highly burdensome tax regime are posing a serious challenge to the industry, according to the chamber.

It has also called for removal of all pricing restrictions as also the removal of restriction on the number of film shows between 8 a.m. and 1.30 a.m.

All States should specifically permit computerised ticketing and entertainment taxes should be capped to 16 per cent across the country.

India is amongst the highly ‘under-screened’ countries in the world, according to the chamber. It has only about 12 screens per million in comparison to the US, which has about 117 screens per million. There is thus an estimated shortfall of an estimated 40,000 screens in the country.

Among major problems facing the industry is multiplicity and non-standardisation in laws governing the sector. Regulation and taxation on cinema exhibition are dealt with by State Governments resulting in subjectivity, according to the chamber.

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