Check if your Theatre follows these rules when you go to a Cinema Theatre/Multiplex
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
May 8, 2015
It is important for citizens to know about their rights as well as rules governing various issues. Here is a compilation of some of the important rules to be followed by theatre managements in AP and Telangana. Similar rules exist across different states and readers are encouraged to check their individual state’s cinema regulation rules. Some of these rules are not known to the common public and hence not enforced in many theatres.
It is a known fact that the people of India are avid movie lovers. The number of films made every year and the number of screens across the country is a testimony to this fact. According to the Film Federation of India, there are over 10K screens across the country which is the second largest in the world,only after the US. But not many of the movie goers know about the rules that the theatres have to follow.
The Constitution of India puts cinematography both in the Union List & State List for different purposes. While the Central Government is given the authority to certify films for exhibition (Censor Board), the State Government is given the authority to regulate cinema theatres, norms governing them, admission fee in theatres etc.
While there are similar rules across different states in India, we wanted to highlight some of them from AP & Telangana as a case study. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Cinema Theatres are governed by “The Andhra Pradesh Cinemas (Regulation) Act, 1955 and the Andhra Pradesh Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1970” and their subsequent amendments. (These acts are also valid for Telangana now). Below are some of the rules movie goers should be aware of.
Seating & Conditions
Noise Levels
At no point of time during the show, the maximum noise level inside the auditorium of the cinema theater shall exceed the following maximum.
Toilet & Water
Show Timings & Show Rules
Acts & Laws to be followed by Theatres
Safety Related
We could demand the theatres to enforce some of these rules if they are not already doing it.
Where should be the complaint be lodged?
In districts, the concerned licensing authority is the District Collector and hence a complaint can be made to the collector in case of a violation. In cities like Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Warangal where there is a  Police Commissionerate, the licensing authority is the Police Commissioner, hence a complaint has to be filed with the police.
Sources:
Featured Image Source: Tarun Mitra at English Wikipedia [GFDL or CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons