The year 2018 wasn't too kind to Indore 's cinema-goers. In addition to the introduction of the massive 28% GST on tickets, the city's movie buffs were also subjected to a dry spell at the cinemas in October last year, when hall owners across the state went on a month-long strike. However, all that's in the past now. Following the government's decision to reduce the GST rate on cinema tickets, Indoris are excited to catch up on big-ticket pics like Uri The Accidental Prime Minister and Petta, which will be hitting the screens today, on new discounted prices. Meanwhile, cinema halls across the state are anticipating an exponential rise in footfalls.The implementation of the revised GST plans for cinema became effective on January 1, and now the GST has been revised to 12% on tickets priced up to Rs. 100, and 18% on those priced above Rs. 100.“Most of the single screen tickets were priced between Rs. 75-100. Now, the price has been brought down to a range of Rs. 60-90. We’re hoping for good footfall from the student crowd now in the coming week, with so many much-awaited films releasing today," says Gajendra Singh, owner of a single screen theatre in the city.Manager of a multiplex chain in the city, adds, “The number of people watching movies in halls had definitely gone down over the year. Only blockbusters saw a good footfall. With the reduced prices, we are hoping the cinema loyalists, who had taken to watching movies on online, will make their way back to the theatres.”“This is a welcome move for us. The booking for new releases is already showing good response online, and we are expecting more footfall over the counter around weekend. It has created a win-win situation for both viewers and the industry, and we are hoping smaller cities like Indore will show big results,” - Dinesh Parmar, manager of a multiplex in Vijaynagar.Even so, the hustle bustle in the cinemas has certainly increased, be it through counter booking or online, as cinemagoers are overjoyed at finding pocket-friendly booking prices.“When I opened a movie booking app in the first week of January to book tickets for Bumblebee , I couldn’t believe the rates multiplexes were showing. We are easily saving a good Rs. 25-30 on the tickets now,” says Adwait Joshi, a media student and avid movie buff. Media sales executive Sonali Kamdar adds, “I am a completely filmy person, and I watch movies just to de-stress after work – be it a blockbuster or not. For people like me, who are fairly regular at the halls, it is a welcome move. The fact that tickets prices are showing a significant difference in price is going to bring the crowd back to halls.”The reduction in ticket prices is also expected to higher popcorn and eatables sales at multiplexes and single screens. "Due to the hefty ticket charges, many patrons had been avoiding popcorn and other snack items sold at the counters in multiplexes. But now we are hoping the sale of eatables will go up," shares Ashutosh Singh.The movie buffs too are thinking along similar lines. Mayank Gupta, a student, says that this time he plans to splurge on the big tub of his favourite cheese popcorn. "We had been cutting corners by sharing the large one among the group. Now that the ticket is more affordable, we can buy bigger tubs for the group and even add nachos and cold drinks to the list!"

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