Cinemas in India's Maharastra state - which encompasses Bollywood capital Mumbai - have re-opened after a strike over entertainment taxes was called off after three days.

Cinema owners called off the strike after the state government reduced its entertainment tax from 55 per cent to 45 per cent in Mumbai.

In addition, the state has also agreed to the cinema owners' increasing their service charges levied upon moviegoers.

Nestor D'Souza, president, Cinematographers and Exhibitors Association of India told ScreenDaily.com, that the move by the state government was a win-win situation for all parties concerned.

D'Souza added that extensive discussions would be held with the state government on other un-addressed issues of cinema owners next week.

Meanwhile, Mumbai based Shringar Cinemas is gearing up to launch five new multiplexes in Maharashtra over the next two years, with an investment of approximately US$ 10 million.

While one will be in Nasik, Shringar is still in the process of finalising the cities for the other four projects.

Shringar already has a 5 screen multiplex in Western Mumbai called 'Fame Adlabs', a joint venture with the Manmohan Shetty-promoted Adlabs.

Earlier the company had announced plans to launch another 6 screen multiplex in Mumbai suburbs in February 2004.