For single-screen theatres, it’s still a ‘no show’

A abandoned porch and iron shutters over the principle gate is a widespread sight at most single-screen theatres within the metropolis.

The halls shut down on March 13, 2020, as a result of COVID-19 outbreak, and most of them are still closed regardless of the Delhi authorities permitting them to reopen.

Theatres had been among the many worst-hit within the leisure sector throughout the lockdown, and occupancy restrictions still make doing enterprise powerful, particularly for single-screen theatres. Many staff of small halls have had their salaries halved.

Fifty-year-old Vijay Singh, who has been working as a ticket-booking clerk at Gagan Cinema in Nand Nagri for the final 36 years, misses the time earlier than the pandemic. “The hall would be full if a Salman Khan movie was playing. You would find as many people outside the hall as inside… but now, we sit idle all day, taking a stroll or basking in the sun,” he says.

“I used to earn ₹16,000 a month before the outbreak. After the hall shut, the salaries of all employees were halved. But we are all grateful to the owner of the cinema hall for continuing to give us a pay cheque,” says Mr. Singh.

Salary reduce

The wage reduce has pressured Mr. Singh and his household to scale back their bills. “I have two sons and a daughter. My oldest son is married and lives with us. Earlier, we used to get three litres of milk every day, now we make do with 1.5 litres. Each of us used to have four cups of tea daily, now we have just two. This is the practical cost of the situation,” he says.

Mr. Singh has needed to delay his daughter’s wedding ceremony celebrations as nicely. “We fixed the marriage of my daughter 10 days ago but we will organise the functions a year from now when our financial condition is better,” he says.

Even although the cinema corridor is closed, Mr. Singh makes the two-minute stroll to the theatre each day. “My daughter-in-law is at home. It doesn’t look nice if I idle away at home, so, I come in [to the theatre] at 10 a.m. and leave at 7 p.m.”

Ramashish Yadav, 43, who has been working as a safety guard at west Delhi’s Milan Cinema for the previous 9 years, resides in a makeshift lodging beneath the steps resulting in the corridor.

His utensils and groceries are saved on the steps and he prepares his meals on a range close to his mattress.

Mr. Yadav, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, used to earn ₹10,000 a month earlier than the outbreak, however now will get about ₹7,000. He is barely in a position to make ends meet as he sends many of the a reimbursement house to his spouse and youngsters. “The employees are all old. They will not be able to get a job anywhere else,” he says. It is a worry Mr. Singh shares.

In north Delhi’s Amba, a theatre that was common with school college students, cinema supervisor Virender Antin, 35, surfs the Internet on his cellphone whereas sitting exterior the doorway of the corridor. He comes 15 days a month and will get ₹8,500. Earlier, he used to get ₹18,000 a month.

Life has turn out to be powerful, says the daddy of two school-going youngsters. “My kids have to attend online classes. I had to buy a smartphone for them and took a loan from my parents,” he says, including that college charges is a main expense for them now.

“I live in Bawana and used to take the scooter to work, spending ₹150 on petrol every day. Now, I take the bus. It takes me two and a half hours one way and ₹15 a day. I have no other option,” he says, including that he has needed to take cash from household and mates to handle his family.

No new launch

“The government has allowed reopening of theatres but no new films are releasing. The multiplexes may be able to manage even if a few people show up at every screen. We have only one screen and only two-three people turned up, but it stills costs us electricity and full staff attendance is needed,” he says.

At Ritz Cinema in Kashmere Gate, peon Jaiveer, 49, says: “Poore din baithe rehte hain… man hello nahi lagta [I keep sitting idle all day… there’s no fun in that]. He is someway managing the family along with his curtailed wage. His two sons, one in Class 12 and one other in first 12 months of school, have deferred their schooling to search out jobs and assist their parents.