Vijayawada: Eating snacks during movies proves costly

VIJAYAWADA: There are nearly 50 cinema theatres, including multiplexes, across the city. The prices of eatables such as bakery items, soft drinks, sweet corn etc are almost triple than the prices outside. The theatre management refuses to allow patrons to take food and in some cases even water inside telling that it is a security concern and burning a hole in the pockets of costumers. Experts say that over 40 per cent of the business in theatres is through food stalls.

A 300 ml soft drink may cost Rs 15 outside, but in theatres, it costs around Rs 25 to Rs 75. A sweet corn cup in a roadside costs Rs 20; it is Rs 40 in theatres and Rs 150 in multiplexes. Particularly in Multiplex theatres, the Popcorn cost about 210 to 250 in an attractive pack, also collecting extra CGST, SGST, Service charge etc. with the name of select channel.

The viewers are alleging that the theatre management or the contractors of food courts are charging the customers higher at food courts in multiplexes.  They are also alleging the officers, that the theatre management is collecting openly and officers are not taking any action against them. High prices have pushed people away from theatres. Though, the Minister Prattipati Pullarao and district Collector B. Lakshmikantham warned multiplex managements, the situation is yet to change. Some of the theatres are allowing water bottles after the collector warned them.

“I happened to visit PVP Square Mall at Vijayawada to watch a movie. I went to a food stall which was selling Sweet Corn. While the prices displayed read as Rs 130 exclusive of taxes, the staff handed over a bill of Rs 153.40. While going through the details of the bill, I found that they have initially charged me a GST of 18.70% and then given a discount of 0.70% on the final bill. I found this incident fishy for two reasons firstly, the stall is misleading customers by quoting a wrong price and secondly, they looting the clients with a GST of 18% which is applicable to Non-AC area of AC restaurants,  alleged Anil Kumar Jonnalagadda of Vijayawada.

One of the senior theatre owners said that the multiplexes are having their own rules about food courts, along with Cinematography Act. He accepted that they are charging higher for snacks and food items in multiplexes, which burn a hole in the pocket of the costumer. “Multiplexes are like star hotels. There will be a variations between street vendors and the star hotels. Multiplex theatres’ target customers are only the rich and well to do. At present, theatres are operating without profits. The loss on movies are covered by exhorbitant prices in food courts. There are normal theatres for people who cannot afford this,” said Muttarapu  Sriivasa Babu, Vice President, AP Film Chamber of Commerce. “Nobody should collect excess amount on Maximum retail price (MRP) and the CGST more than 5 percent, they should not collect another charge like service charge or SGST etc.,” he added.