Diwali has at all times meant huge enterprise for film theatres, with movie buffs trying ahead to blockbusters with stellar star casts. Nevertheless, this yr theatre homeowners are searching for new methods to beat enterprise blues.
Ever since cinemas reopened submit lockdown, occupancy throughout halls in Salt Lake and New City has been extraordinarily low. The particular person manning the ticket counter at Nazrul Tirtha stated: “Footfall is abysmal. Our smallest theatre has 350 seats, of which solely 5 have been occupied final Saturday. Earlier than the pandemic, we was houseful on weekends.”
Whereas the extra tech-savvy movie buffs have tuned into OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+Hotstar, huge display screen followers are ready it out until the subsequent huge launch hits the theatres. “The final movie I noticed was in February at a multiplex in Salt Lake. I actually miss going to the theatres however I do know it’s not secure but. A second wave of the coronavirus is on the way in which and I’m not assured sufficient to exit,” stated Paulami Sarkar, a resident of FD Block.
New releases like Manoj Bajpayee’s Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari (Hindi), Switzerland (Bengali), Biskoth (Tamil) and Irandam Kuththu (Tamil) will see the sunshine of day over the Diwali weekend. Inox (Metropolis Centre I & II) and Swabhumi can even maintain a Yash Raj Movie Pageant over the weekend. “This yr marks 50 years of Yash Raj Movies so we’ve tied up with the manufacturing home to display screen classics like Silsila, Kabhi Kabhie, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Dil To Pagal Hain, Veer Zara, Bunty Aur Babli and Ek Tha Tiger over the Diwali weekend. Tickets to the movie competition will value Rs 50,” stated sources at Inox.
As for security measures, auditorium occupancies have been introduced all the way down to half, adjoining seats on both sides can be left vacant, ground markers can be positioned at field workplace and meals counters, PPE package can be on sale, seats can be disinfected and sanitised after each present and visitors can be inspired to keep up a 6ft distance from different households and teams always. There are additionally contactless sanitiser dispensers on the entrance and within the lobbies together with enhanced air-filtration techniques and designated bins for masks, gloves and so forth.
“I went to Inox to observe a movie final week and there have been simply two different folks within the auditorium. It was eerie,” stated Stuti Hasan, a resident of AE Block.
“The meals stalls have been shut and only a handful of employees have been current. However security measures have been in place so I’ll return. I hope to see extra releases within the coming weeks. Possibly then the group will slowly trickle again to the theatres.”
