States » SouthPosted at: Jan 4 2021 2:16PM

Chennai, Jan 4 (UNI) Ahead of the release of new
movies coinciding with the pongal festival, the
Tamil Nadu government on Monday allowed theatres
and multiplexes to scree movies with 100 per cent
seating capacity.
The state government had earlier allowed screening
of movies in theatres with 50 per cent seating
capacity by following the COVID-19 protocols and
the SOP put in place by the health department like
wearing face masks, thermal scanning and following
physical distancing norms.
Despite these relaxations, the patronage by the
movie buffs was not encouraging in view of the
pandemic and the producers were also reluctant
to screen movies with 50 per cent capacity.
A Government Order allowing theatres to operate with
full seating capacity was issued today, amid steady
decline in corona positive cases, which had come
down to three figure mark across the State.
The GO said following a request from Tamil Theatres
and Multiplex Owners Association the theatres were
permitted to screen movies with full seating capacity
by following the SOPs.
Actors Simbhu and Vijay also requested the government
to allow screening of movies with full seating capacity.
This would provide a big fillip to the film industry as a
number of big ticket movies including actor Vijay’s
'Master' and Simbhu's 'Easwaran' will hit the screens
on Pongal, which was expected to bring back audiences
to the theatres in large numbers.
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