Govt Bows to demand on showtiming

May 19 : Bowing to the demand of the film industry
, Karnataka government today announced that the timings of cinema shows would not be allowed to be extended upto 2300 hrs.

Announcing this Home Minister V S Acharya said the government was ready to help the Kannada film industry to progress and this was a gesture in this direction. Earlier, late shows were directed to be ended at 2200 hrs.

Film exhibition timing had been changed to attract women and working
class to the theaters to promote the industry, following a demand from the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, he said.

In view of this decision, the government would also allow eateries in the city to remain open till midnight from the earlier stipulated closing time of 2300 hrs. Hotels in central bus station, railway station and the International airport would be open beyond midnight, he said.

If there was any need to keep restaurants open after midnight, police would consider them as special cases and extend permission wherever needed, he sad.

Mr Acharya said as promised to the cinema industry, the BJP government in the state would use Goondas Act to crack down on fake CD and VCD market. Anyone found dealing with it would face severe action. Amendment to the laws would be brought about in the coming Monsoon session.