Sunday, April 19, 2020

No movie theaters till January 2021

In what could be a body blow to Indian movie industry, the committee of Union Ministers that met yesterday in Delhi to take steps to ease the lock-down was told that movie theaters across India should not be opened until Covid 19 has been fully eradicated from India.  The  review will take place on January 2021. This recommendation has sent shivers down the spine of the Indian Movie Industry. The industry was hoping for a partial easing of social distancing regarding movie halls after May 3rd. PVR ,the biggest player in the theater network in India, had even given a proposal that it would operate theater's at 30% capacity to maintain the norms and this in turn would reduce crowds in cafeterias and parking lots. Now the report given to the ministry by Health Ministry officials say that  PVR or other multiplexes may be able to enforce this 30% capacity, but not the other theater's that are in small towns and Tier 2 and 3 cities. Practically, it is not possible for police force to be deployed at all movie halls to enforce social distancing.
Sources say that big chains can absorb the cut in ticket collections and cover up with cafeteria charges and parking  . In cases of multiplexes that are not part of any chain, it would only result in losses. Secondly, a distributor looks to taking out his money in the first week itself and less number of shows would mean longer time. This again would lead to online piracy and negative publicity on social media killing the film.
The situation in South India is even more complex according to the report. The films are star-driven and fan clubs play an important factor in the first week of release. Restricting them would only lead to  clashes with staff and subsequently deployment of police. The early morning shows as early as 4 AM and late night at 12 midnight are according to movie hall managers, the most tricky ones to manage.
The exhibition sector, especially the big budgeted ones with big Stars and awaiting release are in for a major logistics problem. According to a distributor- Producer Kannan Perumadiyoor, a film like Marrikar starring Mohanlal and directed by Priyadarshan will have to go in for a Pan India release and especially in the Gulf countries to recover the money. The Bahubali director Rajmouli's Ra Ra Ra a multi- starrer too needs a similar release. Add to this Rajanikanth's Annathathe , Vijay's Master and Suriya's SP.
In Bollywood, Suryavanshi the Rohit Shetty film with Akshay Kumar- Katrina Kaif  with  Ajay Devgn and Ranveer Singh in cameos is awaiting release.  Kabir Khan's sports film 83 is too waiting with many other films. Add to this the highly expected Hollywood films that were to be a summer release.
The multiplexes have asked staff to take their March salary and come back when called. Minimum power tariff and property tax is due. Added to this is maintenance as constant fumigation is needed to keep the rodents away. The local body tax levied by State goes to the City corporations- towns and panchayat. With cash crunch, it is unlikely to be waived for movie halls.

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