Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Gaiety-Galaxy Temporarily Shut Amid Licence And Cable Dispute
Gaiety-Galaxy, a famous cinema in Mumbai, has temporarily stopped showing films.
Police said the theatre’s entertainment licence had not been renewed since 2021-22.
This came after political workers reportedly complained that the theatre was not showing Hanuman Ansh.
They allegedly tore posters for Mirzapur: The Movie, and police were called.
The police then checked the theatre’s documents and ordered it to stop operating.
Theatre executive director Manoj Desai gave a different explanation.
He said some cables had burned and that new ones were needed before the cinema could reopen.
Gaiety-Galaxy opened in 1972 and is popular for first-day shows and fan celebrations.
Mumbai Police ordered Gaiety-Galaxy, part of G7 Multiplexes, to stop operations after finding its entertainment licence had not been renewed since 2021-22.
The shutdown followed an alleged confrontation involving political workers who objected to the theatre screening Mirzapur: The Movie instead of Hanuman Ansh.
Police said the theatre lacked a valid licence, while executive director Manoj Desai attributed the closure to burnt cables and technical maintenance.
Desai said new cables were being arranged from Lohar Chawl in South Mumbai before screenings could resume.
The theatre opened in 1972 with Gaiety, Galaxy, and Gemini, later expanding to seven screens and becoming known for fan celebrations and celebrity events.
- Who
- Gaiety-Galaxy, G7 Multiplexes executive director Manoj Desai, Mumbai Police, and political workers were involved in the reported developments.
- What
- The Gaiety-Galaxy cinema was temporarily shut, with police citing an unrenewed licence and management citing burnt cables and technical maintenance.
- When
- The shutdown was reported on Monday, identified in one report as September 7; the articles do not specify the year.
- Where
- Gaiety-Galaxy in Mumbai’s Bandra area; replacement cables were being arranged from Lohar Chawl in South Mumbai.
- Why
- Police said the entertainment licence had not been renewed since 2021-22, while Desai said the immediate problem was burnt cables. The licence issue was discovered after police were called following an alleged confrontation over film screenings.
Police And Licence Account
Management And Technical Account
Reason for shutdown
Police And Licence Account
Mumbai Police said the theatre was ordered to stop operations because its entertainment licence was not valid and had not been renewed since 2021-22.
Management And Technical Account
Manoj Desai said the theatre was temporarily shut because some cables had burned, creating a technical and safety-related maintenance issue.
Connection to the confrontation
Police And Licence Account
Police were called after political workers allegedly objected to the absence of Hanuman Ansh, and officers discovered the licence problem while checking the theatre’s documents.
Management And Technical Account
Desai said the closure was purely technical and did not attribute it to the alleged protest or the film-screening dispute.
Condition for reopening
Police And Licence Account
The police account indicates that the theatre must address its licence-related non-compliance before operating legally.
Management And Technical Account
Desai said screenings could resume after replacement cables were arranged and the maintenance work was completed.
- Theatre
- Gaiety-Galaxy, part of G7 Multiplexes
- Location
- Bandra, Mumbai
- Police explanation
- The entertainment licence had not been renewed since 2021-22
- Management explanation
- Burnt cables required replacement and technical maintenance
- Films involved in dispute
- Hanuman Ansh and Mirzapur: The Movie
- Opening year
- 1972
- Original screens
- Gaiety, Galaxy, and Gemini
