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, necessary 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 p.c occupancy from Monday.
Digital reserving of tickets and staggered present timings to keep away from crowding can be inspired, the minister stated, 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 mandatory step to revive the business.
“We welcome the decision of @MIB_India to allow 100% capability in cinemas from February 1 and lengthen our honest gratitude to Honourable @PrakashJavdekar ji and everybody concerned in facilitating this essential step in our business’s restoration,” 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 permitting 100% seating capability in Cinemas from 1 Feb. We would love to lengthen our gratitude to Hon. MP @iamsunnydeol for his management and help,” the tweet learn.
According to new pointers, no movie shall be allowed to display screen in containment zones and states and union territories might think about “proposing extra measures” as per their evaluation.
Post lockdown, the Centre had allowed reopening of theatres and multiplexes in a number of areas, together with Delhi, components of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat on October 15, 2020 with 50 per cent occupancy, functioning with stringent dos and don’ts, conserving 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,
Limited, stated permitting 100 per cent occupancy in cinema halls would give the multiplex business a “a lot wanted increase.”
“This transfer would give confidence to the producers to launch their a lot awaited movies and audiences to return to the cinemas to watch their choicest films in the corporate of their family members,” Dutta stated in an announcement.
Echoing the same sentiment, Alok Tandon, Chief Executive Officer –
, stated rest of seating norms was a “important prerequisite” to assist rebuild cinema exhibition in the nation.
Tandon stated the decision would now encourage producers to roll out their launch slate of movies.
“This would ease the apprehensions in the minds of content material producers and studios, who might now announce the discharge dates of their films. We now look ahead to the State Governments to present us the nod to implement the revised pointers,” Tandon stated 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 up to now 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 films “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 would not have “any excuses” to maintain again launch, Bihar-based exhibitor Vishek Chauhan stated.
“Now, the business wants to plan out a correct launch technique. What we won’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 the whole business has been ready for to convey the audiences again to theatres.
“Once its launch date is introduced, inside per week 20 movies can be introduced. This is a good information for exhibitors. Finally Bollywood has no excuses left,” Chauhan informed .
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 information. Back to 100% capability for cinemas quickly. Contrary to notion, I do not imagine the theatrical medium will ever cross away in #India. Time for OTT and cinemas to co-exist peacefully,” Garg, who’s backing Taapsee Pannu’s “Looop Lapeta”, tweeted.
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