MAMI MESS: Frustrated filmgoers manipulate smses to gain entry

Avid film buffs were forced to cheat and manipulate smses as they found the 16th Mumbai Film Festival's online ticket registration too difficult and complicated. They started sending fake smses in the name of "DM-MMFest" and managed to 'con' MAMI volunteers for some time till the 'scam' was detected and volunteers started taking serious action including confiscating passes and issuing warnings to 'defaulters'. This led to several clashes between delegates and volunteers over the weekend. Inspite of increasing the number of screens to ten - Chandan, PVR ECX (5 screens) and Cinemax (4 screens), MAMI 2014 organizers couldn't satisfy the cravings of thousands of delegates who had enrolled (some of them taking a week off or bunking work for the Fest or leaving South Mumbai confines to come to suburbs). And everyone is blaming the rules of the new online ticketing reservation system. There is no option of the good old "standing in queues" and "first come first served" techniques this year. Says delegate Gurdeep Singh, "Many old people or those with no internet connection are being discriminated against as they don't get tickets for good films. How do they expect us to log on to the web to choose films starting noon. And both PVR and Cinemax don't have wi-fi." Delegates also encountered problems when they tried booking films for Monday (20 Oct) like Schimbare (2nd screening), The Blue Room and couldn't do so as the online ticketing reservation system showed that the theatre was full as soon as bookings opened. Another MAMI regular Sudhir who we spoke to says, "We have paid Rs 1500 and this time there is no concession given to cine associations such as Prabhat Chitramandal (generally 50% discount used to be given). But this time good films are very few and far between. Works of world famous directors is conspicuous by their absence. It’s disappointing," Over the weekend, there were instances when frustrated delegates starved of good films barged into the auditoriums bypassing through volunteers and sat in aisles and on the steps/ stairs (which is not allowed as per fire safety rules) to watch the rare good films. This led to the PVR Group issuing warnings to MAMI organisers stating that if such instances occurred again they would stop screening films. This led to more uproar. Volunteers also confiscated passes of certain delegates who had manipulated smses in a desperate bid to enter the auditoriums. However, they were let off with a warning. The worst instance was when a Times of India journalist who had a valid pass and sms was not allowed to a film by high handed volunteers who told him that Hindustan Times is the official partner to the fest...he was literally roughed up and forced out. Adds another disgruntled delegate Kranti, "We have basic phone handsets and MAMI discriminates against those who don't have internet connection or smartphones. How can film lovers and delegates do online ticket registration reservation every day at 12 noon when they are busy watching films from 10am to 10pm? There are no charging facilities too." There is also anger and resentment amongst general category of delegates that MAMI volunteers haven't been allowing them to sit in the VIP seats on top even when the VIPs don't attend screenings and these plum seats (including recliners) are lying vacant. Says Amisha N, "VIPs are few and far between. Volunteers stand guard over vacant seats and shoo away those who have to sit in the front rows. Once the screenings start they can easily accommodate those sitting in front but this is not being done." Surprisingly, MAMI Committee spokespeople and Festival Directors have been missing in action over the entire episode. Several attempts to contact them were indeed unsuccessful as has been the case during most of the fest days.