The last time you went to the movies, did the cost of an evening's entertainment make you wince? Tickets and even basic snacks like popcorn and cola, can set an average family of four back by Rs 4,000 an outing. While moviegoers are justifiably angry that they have to pay 20 times the price for a packet of popcorn, or a glass of cola, multiplex owners insist they have overheads to worry about. The Bombay High Court is hearing a petition that says multiplexes must allow outside food, and not compel people to buy food and drink inside at unreasonable and exorbitant rates. Stern observations from the court seem to have made little difference so far in the prices of multiplex snacks. Even the state government has stepped in, but multiplexes are adamant and say they have received no formal notifications yet. We ask this evening: Outside food, cheaper prices of snacks in multiplexes, good for cinemagoers but bad for business?
