Several hundred multiplexes across India will offer movie screenings at an admission price of Rs 75 as a gesture to thank moviegoers on National Cinema Day, to be celebrated across the country on September 23, the Multiplex Association of India (MAI) has announced.

More than 4,000 screens from participating theatres across India will be available for shows during the celebrations, a statement from MAI, a body of cinema operators that covers more than 75% of India’s theatres, read.

The National Cinema Day was previously announced to be held on September 16. However, in the wake of requests from various stakeholders and in order to maximise participation, it would now be held on September 23, the MAI stated in a press communique.

Popular multiplexes like PVR, INOX, Cinepolis, Carnival, Miraj, Citypride, Asian, Mukta A2, Movie Time, Wave, M2K and Delite will participate in the celebrations.

National Cinema Day is aimed at bringing together audiences of all ages to enjoy a day at the movies in a bid to celebrate the successful reopening of cinemas after the pandemic.

“It is a thank you to the moviegoers who made this happen. National Cinema Day is also an invitation to those moviegoers who haven't made it back to a cinema near them, yet,” read a statement from MAI, constituted in 2002 under the aegis of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

India has a thriving domestic film industry and has seen one of the sharpest recoveries in the film exhibition business, MAI said in a press release. The first quarter of the current financial year was marked by the release of some of the biggest domestic hits like KGF: Chapter 2, RRR, Vikram, Bhool Bhulaiya 2 and Hollywood hits such as Doctor Strange and Top Gun: Maverick, it added.