Bak Bak Bilal: Outside Food in Maha Cinema - to Eat or Not to Eat

The Maharashtra government on Friday warned multiplexes that they would face action if they restrained movie watchers from carrying home-cooked or outside food.

"There is no ban on patrons carrying outside food to multiplexes and if the multiplex authorities prohibit it, they could face action," Food and Civil Supplies Minister Ravindra Chavan said in the state legislature.

His statement came after a heated debate on the raging issue of exorbitant prices charged by multiplexes for food, water and beverages.

I am a common man who watches a movie in theatres twice or thrice a month. I prefer watching movies on a Tuesday because the prices are a mere Rs 90 compared to the average Rs 200/250 on other days. I make sure I enjoy the luxuries of life and also save whenever I can, but as a cinema lover I love munching on something during my cinema experience too. And this is where multiplexes exploit my vulnerability.

A packet of popcorn would cost Rs 30 in the market and the same amout of popcorn served in a movie theatre is priced Rs 300 - 10 times its market price. Eventually I started avoiding food inside theatres due to the exorbitant prices. I’m not the only one going through this.

Thank you, Mumbai High Court, who told the government to allow patrons to carry food and water from outside as the prices inside are too damn high. It was a PIL filed by film writer and director Jinendra Baxi who challenged the ban. This was in January 2018 and it took the Maharashtra government around six months to take action.

Citizens across the country have lauded this move although there are a few who are not against the order but expect a restriction in this law as theatres can also get dirty because of the types of food people will bring in.

I think this shall force movie theatres to lower their prices and make it affordable for the public. People will only carry food and coke to movie theatres when they feel cheated by the prices. If multiplexes offered them at affordable rates, nobody would take their own food! Which could also mean prices of tickets would go up to compensate for prices in food items and people would think twice before watching a movie.

Satyajit Mittal, a resident of Pune

I think it’s going to create a lot more garbage within the movie hall. It makes a lot more sense to just reduce the prices of movie snacks within the theatre. Those are some ridiculous prices for a popcorn/ nachos and Coke. Just reduce it and maybe allow just biscuits inside and that’s enough. Ab for all you know, log will bring tiffin carriers full of food and make a royal mess inside. Also, it might disturb other movie goers, not just in terms of commotion but also random smells/aromas.

Ayushmita Rao, a resident of Mumbai

I think people will start getting smelly food in the theatres, and others sitting in the auditorium might not like that (I for one won’t appreciate smelly food).

Atharva Raje, a student in Pune

This video is a ‘bak bak’ on the issue and my take on it.

Editor: Veeru Mohan Krishan