Sterling screen will go blank

One more single screen theatre in the city is giving way to a swanky multiplex. The Tata-owned Sterling cinema, a major south Mumbai landmark, is gearing up for a makeover. The theatre will down shutters this Friday and is expected to reopen early next year as a three-screen multiplex.

The theatre management on Tuesday informed moviegoers intent on booking tickets for weekend shows that the cinema will be closed down for renovations. Noel Tata, the CEO of Tata’s retail arm Trent, was unavailable for comment. But president of the Theatre Owners’ Association RV Vidhani confirmed that Sterling would make way for a multiplex.

“Single screen halls are finding it difficult to sustain themselves due to the high entertainment tax (which stands at 44 per cent) and the municipal tax on the turnover.” Vidhani said multiplexes were offered attractive sops by the government, including exemption from entertainment tax for the first three years and 75 per cent exemption for the next two years.

Over the past five years, 49 single screen cinemas in Mumbai and the suburbs have downed shutters. Apsara at Grant Road and Metro at Marine Lines are among those that have been converted into multiplexes.