Mumbai’s iconic Gaiety-Galaxy cinema complex in Bandra was temporarily shut this week, with police and the theatre’s management giving differing explanations for the closure.
Bandra police posted a notice outside the theatre stating that shows were suspended due to non-renewal of the venue’s operating licence, and registered a case under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against the operators.
Theatre executive director Manoj Desai told reporters the shutdown was actually due to burnt electrical cables inside the venue, and that new cables were being sourced from Lohar Chawl in South Mumbai.
Gaiety Galaxy has operated in Bandra since 1972 and is one of Mumbai’s oldest surviving single-screen theatre complexes.
No date has been announced for reopening, with the timeline dependent on completion of repairs and any certification the venue needs to resubmit.
Gaiety Galaxy in Bandra has operated since 1972 and is one of Mumbai’s oldest surviving single-screen theatre complexes, a fixture of the city’s Bollywood-adjacent cinema culture.
Bandra police registered a case under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against the theatre’s operators after finding required certificates had not been renewed.
Executive director Manoj Desai told reporters the shutdown was due to burnt electrical cables inside the theatre, and that replacement cables were being sourced from Lohar Chawl in South Mumbai.
A notice posted by Bandra police outside the theatre stated that shows were suspended for the time being due to non-renewal of the venue’s operating license.
The theatre’s closure comes at a time when several older single-screen cinemas across Mumbai have faced increasing pressure from licensing and fire-safety compliance requirements.
Gaiety Galaxy has historically hosted premieres and events for major Bollywood releases, making it a recognisable name well beyond Bandra itself.
Authorities have not specified a date for reopening, with the timeline dependent on completion of the electrical repairs and submission of renewed certification.
G7 Multiplex (Gaiety-Galaxy), Bandra, Mumbai, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
