Maharashtra: Multiplexes, theatres reopen amid Covid-19 safety measures

NASHIK/KOLHAPUR/AURANGABAD: Cinema halls, drama theatres and auditoriums reopened in Nashik, Kolhapur and Aurangabad, along with other parts of Maharashtra, after several months on Friday with 50% seating capacity and Covid-19 protocols, as the second wave of the pandemic appears to be ebbing in the state.
These establishments, shut after the second wave hit the state, have reopened just ahead of Diwali in line with the state government's policy to ease coronavirus-related curbs. Earlier, the state government had allowed reopening of religious places and schools for standards VII to XII.
Nashik city has five multiplexes with a total 15 screens. Of these, one multiplex with five screens reopened on Friday, while two more facilities with five screens are expected to reopen in the next few days.
“We started our multiplexes with five screens in accordance with government guidelines. We received very good response though we started with 50% capacity on the very first day of the show,” said an official from the multiplex, which has 10 screens at three locations.
Nashik city resident Vijay Kurule said, “The last one-and-a-half years of Covid pandemic made us tired and we were waiting for the multiplexes to reopen. I enjoyed the first show of a movie at the multiplex.”
Richa Kakkar, a movie buff, said, “Watching movies at multiplex is really exciting. We can’t get the same feeling while watching a movie online.”
Apart from multiplexes, the auditoriums also opened today. The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has three auditoriums, including one that is being renovated. “Kalidas Kala Mandir and Dadasaheb Gaikwad hall reopened from Friday. We have Saturday’s booking for Gaikwad and a programme at Kalidas on Monday,” an NMC official said.
Single screen theatres have decided not to start operations and wait for a few weeks. Vinay Chumbhle, president of the Single Screen Theatre Owners’ Association, said, “Ww have decided to wait and watch as we are pursuing our demands with the state and central governments. One of the major demands is about allowing exit policy to single screen theatre owners so that they can decide whether to continue with the theatre or build a mall or shopping complex on the same premises.
In Kolhaur, the Keshavrao Bhosale Natyagruh resumed in Kolhapur after a gap of 11 months. The theatre artists had organized a special event called ‘Anandotsav’, on Friday evening to celebrate reopening of the auditoriums. The event, which included song and dance shows, was attended by Kolhapur guardian minister Satej Patil.
While inaugurating the programme, Patil assured the artistes from the city that the rent of the Keshavrao Bhosale Natyagruh would be further reduced by 50% to help the theatre fraternity tide over the pandemic-induced losses. Earlier, the administration had announced a 10% reduction in the rent amount.
Mahesh Jadhav, a theatre and film make-up artist, said, “It was the need of the hour to open the theatres.”
Single screen theatres were likely to open from next week. Suryakant Patil-Budhihalkar from cine-exhibitors association said, “As most of the theatre owners were not having any product with them, the single screen theatres did not reopen on Friday. The facilities will reopen next week.”
Only the screens at Inox at Reliance Mall and PVR at DYP City Mall have started with a few shows and are allowing people who have received both the vaccines.
Cinema halls and auditoriums also reopened in Aurangabad on Friday. Dashrath Khajindar, general manager of an organization heading three multiplexes in the city, told TOI, “The response was good on Day One and we had 40 shows at our three multiplexes. We are confident that the number of customers will increase and people will return to the halls to watch cinema.
A manager with a leading multiplex said, “There were so many people happy to visit cinema halls after a long gap. We are confident about packed shows on weekends.”
In some cases, the cinema halls had to call off some shows for want of an adequate audience. Of the 10 shows lined up for Day One at Amba and Apsara cinema halls, four had to be cancelled due to lack of response. Its manager, Alen Lazarus, said, “We are confident that the crowd will definitely return to the halls.”