Bandra’s well-known Gaiety-Galaxy theatre was shut this week, with police and the venue’s ownership offering conflicting accounts of why.
A notice from Bandra police cited non-renewal of the theatre’s operating licence and said a case had been registered under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Executive director Manoj Desai disputed that account, telling reporters the actual cause was burnt electrical cables that needed replacing, with new cabling being sourced from Lohar Chawl in South Mumbai.
The theatre, running since 1972, is among the oldest single-screen cinemas still operating in Mumbai.
Neither party has confirmed a reopening date as of the latest update.
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.
Mumbai’s municipal and police authorities routinely inspect entertainment venues for fire-safety and licensing compliance, particularly after incidents involving electrical faults at public venues.
The conflicting accounts from police and the theatre’s management — license non-renewal versus a technical electrical fault — have not yet been publicly reconciled by either side.
G7 Multiplex (Gaiety-Galaxy), Bandra, Mumbai, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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