Mumbai: Cinema houses all over Maharashtra wore a deserted look, with nearly 1,042 single screen theatres downing their shutters from October 17 as talks with the government on their various demands failed to yield any result.

The call for an indefinite stir was issued by the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association of India (CEAI), Theatre Owners' Association (TOA), Marathwada Theatres Association (MTA), Central Circuit Cinema Association (CCCA) and Poona Exhibitors' Association (PEA).

The decision to go ahead with the stir was taken after the government "failed to adhere to its earlier assurance of looking into the various demands of the cinema house owners", including reduction in entertainment tax to 30 per cent, scaling down of service change and a change in Exit Policy.

The associations on October 17 met Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal to discuss their grievances.

"However, these talks have not resulted in anything concrete. We have decided to continue our stir. We are not satisfied with mere assurances, because we have been receiving such assurance for the past one and a half years," CEAI chief Nestor D'Souza said.

"The strike was estimated to result in a revenue loss of Rs two crore per week," he said.

The crippling taxes had led to closure of nearly 193 cinema houses in the state and 49 theatres in the city in the past three years, industry sources said.

PTI