amid the decline in the new coronavirus In cases, the Maharashtra government on Monday announced new guidelines for easing lockdown restrictions in those districts. The relaxation will come into effect from Tuesday morning, including extending the existing business hours of shops and allowing shopping malls to operate in these districts. With no relief given by the government in its order to reopen cinemas, cinema owners are unhappy with the new rules easing restrictions in the state.
As the entertainment industry has suffered huge losses due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Manoj Desai, executive director of G-7 Multiplex and Maratha Mandir, says the government’s decision to not operate theatres has left them shaken. “I wonder why the state government is not paying attention to our area. We are ready to follow all SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) including working at 50 per cent capacity, but that is also not allowed. We see crowds in markets and malls and people are easily flouting the rules, so why should we suffer.”
Desai also points out that theater owners were expecting some relief, including easier conditions for running their businesses, such as waiver or reduction in electricity and maintenance charges, but the government did not address these issues as well,” Just two days back, I paid electricity bill for Maratha temple. If this continues, we are going to end soon. Survival is going to be tough for many single screens and we have seen many of them shut shop. We need some subsidy including property tax, water tax and other expenses.”
The Multiplex Association of India on Tuesday appealed to the Maharashtra government to allow them to open cinema halls, saying, “The Maharashtra government’s decision to keep theaters closed is very disappointing news for the entire film industry. This comes at a critical time when the industry has received permission from all major states to reopen and is trying to recover from the devastating pandemic. Urging @OfficeofUT to reconsider and allow cinemas to reopen @AUThackeray with folded hands,” he posted on social media.
The Maharashtra government’s decision to keep cinema halls closed is very disappointing news for the entire film industry. This comes at a crucial time when the industry has received permission from all major states to reopen, and is trying to recover from the devastating pandemic.- Multiplex Association of India (@MAofIndia) 3 August 2021
Last week, Akshay Kumar announced the release of his upcoming film Bellbottom in theaters on August 19. Yesterday, while addressing a press conference in Delhi during the trailer launch of the film, the actor said that he is expecting theaters to start operating in the state before the release of his film.
“It’s a gamble. Someone had to do it. We have taken this leap of faith and we are very confident that the film will work. That is what we believe in. I am sure in Delhi as in other states. Despite 50% occupancy people are coming to the theatres. Also, there are still 16-17 days for the film to release, so we are keeping our fingers crossed, you never know (Maharashtra Govt. may allow),” the actor said.
Akshay Rathi, who runs cinema houses in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, says that it is time to allow cinema halls to open, “It is extremely disappointing because Maharashtra is a state that calls itself the home of the film fraternity and its Regardless, it is one of the last five states in the country that have not yet given permission to open cinema halls.
Rathi feels it is important for the government to take a pragmatic approach by keeping the caseload low and at the same time balance the state’s economy.
Comparing it to the neighboring states, he stressed that the industry needs a roadmap for its functioning to take an informed decision as it is not getting any help from the Maharashtra government, “They have not even taken any relief measures. From waiving property tax for the duration of the pandemic to providing electricity at industrial rates instead of commercial rates and single-window licenses to open more screens will help revive the sector. “
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