Cinema halls gear up to welcome movie buffs

COIMBATORE: After remaining closed for eight months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, cinema halls here are getting ready to welcome patrons ahead of Diwali on November 10.
The halls will function with only 50% occupancy, said M Subramaniam, president of the Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association. “Even members of a family will be allowed to sit only on alternate seats.We have upgraded our software to allow people book only such seats,” he told TOI.
There are 169 screens in Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Erode and Tirupur. While small theatres have 500 to 600 seats, multiplexes have 200 to 300 seats.
People will be admitted into the halls only after screening their temperature and ensuring that they wear face masks. “We have decided to give free mask to those who are not wearing one,” Subramaniam said.
There will be four shows a day, said K Rajamannar, president of the Coimbatore, Tirupur, Nilgiris and Erode Distributors Association. “No matter what, all of us would open on November 10. Till Diwali, we will screen old movies and if the producer council decides to release new movies on Diwali, then we would screen those also. If not, we would continue playing old movies.”
Only packed items will be sold at eateries in the theatres. “The cost of tickets will be the same. The halls as well as toilets will be disinfected after every show,” Rajamannar said. “Even though we won’t be able to make profit by operating with 50% occupancy, we hope to get enough to meet our expenses. For the last eight months, we have been paying electricity bill, salary to our employees and cost of maintaining machineries from our pockets,” he added.
Meanwhile, school managements are waiting for the standard operating procedure (SOP) to reopen schools from November 16. “It is high time we reopen the schools for the sake of students appearing for board examinations, as they are struggling during online classes. After a few months, we could consider reopening for other classes,” said R Visalakshi, president of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association.
Deep cleaning is not required at schools as teachers have been visiting schools regularly, an official from the office of chief educational officer (CEO) said.