Single-screen theatre owners face new challenges during pandemic

It is no secret that single-screen theatres that were already bleeding continue to bear the brunt of this prolonged lockdown. We spoke to a few hall owners to check out their challenges. Read on...We need the SOP from the government before we open doors. We can’t compromise on our customer’s safety and security. I am fine with the decision of 25% occupancy in this new normal as now it is zero. We will not serve any food inside our theatre.— Navin Choukhani of NavinaWe will definitely try to reopen after the pandemic. The pandemic outbreak was the last nail in the coffin. It will be a great help if the authorities waive off the corporation tax for a while.— Sourav Bose of BasusreeWe are yet to get a clear order. I heard theatres might open in September. 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’s another challenge of how and when we will get a new film to release. We can carry on with an old film only for a little while, not for long. We need new films to release. So, let’s see.— Arijit Dutta, Priya CinemaWe will wait for some more days till the business becomes normal. It will be a challenge to win over the audience in this situation. We will have to see how things are fairing and only then we can take a call.— Sunit Singh of ParadiseAround 70% single-screen halls shut shop in the last six to seven years, leaving around 220 halls in operation, in Bengal. In Kolkata, the number is a little more than 20. The lockdown has made it a bit more challenging for single-screens to run business.