BHOPAL: The cinema halls except a few like Bharat Talkies may still remain closed despite the state government giving a go ahead to cinema halls and multiplexes to start operations at 50% capacity. The same thing applies to multiplexes as well.
“Where is the content to show? Unless the Hindi films start releasing, cinema halls can’t open”, said Bunny Singh, owner of Rangmahal-Sangeet Cineplex. When asked when the new films are likely to release, he said “When there is unlock in the entire country.” Secretary of Bhopal Cine Association, Aziz Ahmed, also said, “How can the cinema halls open? There are no films to show and old films are not seen by people in cinema halls.” When asked about the release of new films, he said “It’s only after Mumbai unlocks that the films will start releasing because Mumbai accounts for 37% of Hindi film business.”
Ashwini Agrawal of Bharat Cineplex, who had opened his cinema hall in the unlock after Diwali the previous year, is going to open his cinema hall for the public again. When asked what he will show to the spectators, he said “There is a problem with content, no doubt. But, a beginning will have to be made. We shall get some old films. Films like Radhe can be shown.” When asked whether his cinema hall will have the normal four regular shows during the day, he said “Let’s see how people respond. We shall decide accordingly.”
The cinema hall with a capacity of 1000 people, gets only a few viewers at times, causing Agrawal to reduce shows during the day or keep the cinema hall closed on some days.
Some screens of multiplexes may also open for the public. Amber Saxena of Ionex, which has screens at Capital Mall, said that they are eager to open the screens for public viewing. He, too, admitted that content would be a problem but said, “We have content from the south and the east. We shall use it for the time being. But, we are eager and people are eager too, to view films in multiplexes, therefore we shall start operations while following the Covid protocol.”
Sanitization after each show, disinfection of the surface including electrostatic disinfection, which keeps the surface free of virus for 90 days, cashless transactions as much as possible, no-touch delivery of snacks, confirming ticket over mobile rather than giving actual tickets are some of the measures he spelled out to ensure protection of the spectators. Multiplexes at DB Mall would, however, take some days to open up and it’s not sure as to how many of the screens at the malls would be in operation. .
