Pune: After nearly seven months, the Maharashtra government on Thursday finally allowed the reopening of cinema halls and multiplexes with a maximum of 50 per cent seating capacity. Even though the state authorities had allowed resuming the theatres, movie buffs will need to wait for some more time.
Yes, you read it right. Movie lovers will need to wait for at least 10 days to watch their favourite movies on the big screen. Theatre owners in the city have decided not to resume the functioning despite the allowance from the state government.
Arvind Chaphalkar of City Pride said, "There are no new films released as of now, so which movie we should broadcast? We can plan to resume functioning of one or two screens as seating capacity is also limited. So depending on the release of new films, we will decide how to resume the cinema halls. The decision can be made in the coming days.”
As per the issued guidelines, cinema halls can operate with a 50 per cent capacity and eatables inside the cinema halls have been banned. One seat distance also has to be preserved between two people. Also, all basics of guidelines such as thermal checks, masks and use of sanitiser have been made mandatory.
Meanwhile, all single-screen theatre owners of the city have decided to keep the cinema halls closed till the COVID-19 vaccine is developed.
Sadanand Mohol, President, Theatre Owners and Distributors Association informed, “It is a difficult time of survival as the resumption of cinema halls will not give a decent income. The question is how many people will come and visit theatres to watch movies. As the seating capacity is limited, one cannot come together with family members. We will not resume functioning of single-screen cinema halls until we get the vaccine for the virus.”
Maharashtra government on Wednesday allowed reopening number of activities such as cinema halls, theatres, swimming pools and yoga institutes with adherence of guidelines.
