Exhibitors, Producers Guild welcome government’s decision to allow 100% occupancy in theatres

Film exhibitors, producers and cinema corridor house owners on Sunday hailed the Centre’s decision to allow film theatres throughout the nation to function at 100% capability from February 1.

The insiders mentioned the transfer would assist the business get better from the coronavirus pandemic-induced losses.

On Sunday, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar launched a brand new set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to assist functioning of cinema halls with adherence to COVID-19 security protocols.

Adequate bodily distancing, obligatory face masks and sanitisation of auditorium after each screening are among the many newest SOPs issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Sunday, after the federal government allowed cinema halls to function at 100% occupancy from Monday.

Digital reserving of tickets and staggered present timings to keep away from crowding will likely be inspired, the minister mentioned, releasing a set of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

The Producers Guild of India, headed by producer Siddharth Roy Kapur, took to Twitter and wrote that lifting of the occupancy cap was a crucial step to revive the business.

“We welcome the decision of @MIB_India to allow 100% capacity in cinemas from February 1 and extend our sincere gratitude to Honourable @PrakashJavdekar ji and everyone involved in facilitating this important step in our industry’s recovery,” the Guild tweeted.

The Multiplex Association of India additionally took to Twitter and shared that they have been grateful to Javadekar for the decision and thanked actor-BJP MP Sunny Deol for his help.

“We are deeply grateful to Hon. Minister @PrakashJavdekar & @MIB_India for allowing 100% seating capacity in Cinemas from 1 Feb. We would like to extend our gratitude to Hon. MP @iamsunnydeol for his leadership and support,” the tweet learn.

According to new pointers, no movie shall be allowed to display screen in containment zones and states and union territories could think about “proposing additional measures” as per their evaluation.

Post lockdown, the Centre had allowed reopening of theatres and multiplexes in a number of areas, together with Delhi, elements of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat on October 15, 2020 with 50 % occupancy, functioning with stringent dos and don’ts, retaining in view the brand new regular.

Theatres in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh opened final November, whereas cinema halls in Tamil Nadu and Kerala resumed operation in early January.

Gautam Dutta, CEO, PVR Limited, mentioned permitting 100 % occupancy in cinema halls would give the multiplex business a “much needed boost.” “This move would give confidence to the producers to release their much awaited films and audiences to return to the cinemas to watch their choicest movies in the company of their loved ones,” Dutta mentioned in an announcement.

Echoing an analogous sentiment, Alok Tandon, Chief Executive Officer – INOX Leisure Ltd, mentioned rest of seating norms was a “vital prerequisite” to assist rebuild cinema exhibition in the nation.

Tandon mentioned the decision would now encourage producers to roll out their launch slate of movies.

“This would ease the apprehensions in the minds of content producers and studios, who may now announce the release dates of their movies. We now look forward to the State Governments to provide us the nod to implement the revised guidelines,” Tandon mentioned in an announcement.

Due to the shutting down of cinema halls for greater than six months final yr, many huge ticket movies, together with Akshay Kumar’s “Laxmii”, Vidya Balan-starrer “Shakuntala Devi” and Amitabh Bachchan’s “Gulabo Sitabo” — had a direct-to-digital launch.

Only a handful of Hindi movies have thus far opened theatrically, together with Manoj Bajpayee-fronted comedy “Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari”, Kiara Advani-starrer ‘Indoo Ki Jawani” and “Shakeela” and “Madam Chief Minister”, each headlined by Richa Chadha.

Tent pole Hindi motion pictures “Sooryavanshi”, “83” and “Laal Singh Chaddha”, which have been pushed due to the pandemic are nonetheless awaiting a launch date.

With the permission to cinema halls to run on full occupancy, the business now doesn’t have “any excuses” to maintain again launch, Bihar-based exhibitor Vishek Chauhan mentioned.

“Now, the business wants to plan out a correct launch technique. What we are able to’t afford is to overcrowd, conflict our movies on holidays – Eid, Independence day, Diwali. The first movie to bell the cat would in all probability be ‘Sooryavanshi’, which your entire business has been ready for to carry the audiences again to theatres.

“Once its release date is announced, within a week 20 films will be announced. This is a great news for exhibitors. Finally Bollywood has no excuses left,” Chauhan informed PTI.

While the talk on the way forward for cinema halls due to the dependence on OTT platforms has solely raged for the reason that pandemic, producer Tanuj Garg is hopeful that the most recent decision by the federal government will usher in an period of coexistence.

“Good news. Back to 100% capacity for cinemas soon. Contrary to perception, I don’t believe the theatrical medium will ever pass away in #India. Time for OTT and cinemas to co-exist peacefully,” Garg, who’s backing Taapsee Pannu’s “Looop Lapeta”, tweeted.