Will movie halls reopen in August?

Amit Khare, the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) secretary, has recommended to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to consider reopening cinema halls all over the country from August 1 or the latest by August 31. Previously it was advised that social distance will be maintained in theatres wherein alternate seats in the first row and then the next row will be kept vacant. Some

theatre

owners feel that this decision of reopening theatres with 25 per cent auditorium capacity is worse than keeping the theatres shut. CT spoke to a few theatre owners here to know their views. Read on…



Navin Choukhani, Navina Cinemas: We need to have the entire

SOP

from the government before we open our theatres for the audience as we can’t compromise on our customer’s safety and security. I am okay with the decision of 25 per cent occupancy in theatres in this new normal as it nil now. At least the process has to start where the audience will overcome their fear and come to theatres to watch films again.



Sourav Bose, Basusree Cinema: I hope the theatres open soon. Shootings have started where everyone follows safety norms and I am sure theatre owners will also abide by the same norms, so that the audience feels safe while watching a film in theatre. Let the process start with 25 per cent occupancy. I am sure things will look up eventually.



Satadeep Saha, Ajanta Cinema & Rupashree Cinema: It had a mixed feeling when I heard that cinema halls might reopen. We want cinema halls to reopen, so that the business starts. Theatres are shut for the past four months and we still have to pay salaries to our staff, corporation tax, municipality tax, electricity bill, and so on. The audience should also feel safe at theatres while watching films and that’s the prime area of concern. On the other hand, if theatres open, will any producer take the risk of running their films as they too are not sure whether audiences will buy tickets or not. Naturally, all good films will go to OTT platforms. We have to depend on old films if theatres re-open. So after paying all the establishment costs and with just 25 per cent of occupancy in theatres, I don’t know how we will survive.



Arijit Dutta, Priya Cinema: We are yet to get a clear order. I heard theatres might open either on August 1 or September 1. However, if we get to know about it at the last minute, we will still take another 10-15 days to prepare ourselves. We need to call our staffers back, clean and make the equipment ready and then clean and sanitise the auditorium. Then there comes the next challenge: When will we get a new film to release. We can carry on with an old film only for a little while, not for long. We have to get new films to release. So, let’s see.



Rajeev Patni, COO,

INOX Leisure

Ltd: We would love to have all our multiplexes and screens operational at the earliest, but we will have to wait for the final operational guidelines which will be provided by the government authorities.