Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 15, 2020)

On September 30, The Ministry of Home Affairs announced new unlock provisions whereby movie theatres outside the containment zones are allowed to reopen from October 16 with 50 per cent occupancy. While theatres in Maharashtra, Rajasthan and some other states continue to remain shut, exhibitors across the rest of the country are ready to resume business. Ananya Panday and Ishaan Khatter’s Khaali Peeli, and Vivek Oberoi’s PM Narendra Modi were the first films to be announced, now a few other films, including Thappad, Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, Malang, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan (SMZS) and War, have joined the list of reruns.

Thappad director Anubhav Sinha believes that his film, which opened on February 28 this year, had its run cut short by the Coronavirus-triggered pandemic. “We got only two weeks in theatres despite doing around 80 per cent business of the first week in the second which is a fair indicator that the film would’ve run for roughly six more weeks. It’s heartening that eight months after its initial release, it still has promise at the box office,” he says.

Meena Iyer, CEO, Ajay Devgn Ffilms, is happy to contribute to the resurgence of the business with Tanhaji. “The film had an amazing run, but if exhibitors feel that it can attract more footfalls, we’re happy to help. The further it travels, the happier we are,” she asserts.

For SMZS director Hitesh Kewalya, reruns are not for box office glory. “We got a good three-week run during the initial release and the film has a social message that is still relevant. Right now, the aim is to just gauge the audience and accustom them to community-viewing,” he reasons.

Bhushan Kumar, producer of four films up for re-release—Malang, Thappad, Tanhaji and SMZS—agrees that reruns are a way to learn the audience’s needs. “Reopening of theatres is good news for the industry. All four of our films have been successful during initial release. This time they’ll help us gauge audiences’ concerns and plan future releases accordingly,” he shares, adding that, not just theatre owners but also the audience need to strictly follow guidelines.

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh believes that these are just baby steps towards bringing the audience back to theatres. “It’s time to press the reset button. No one is looking at box office figures right now, it’s just about cultivating the habit of going back to cinema. The returns will be very low initially,” he avers, adding that the priority is to provide livelihood to people who’ve been out of business for the last seven months. “Over the years, cinema has faced a lot of roadblocks, but it has always survived and this too shall pass,” he concludes.
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After seven-month shutdown, theatres in Delhi, UP and other states to reopen tomorrow; trade predicts low footfall even as cinemas slash ticket prices
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; October 15, 2020)

Even as a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the fate of cinemas in Maharashtra, the seven-month theatre shutdown comes to an end today in several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Delhi. The exhibitors will open business with the early offerings of 2020 — Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, Thappad — and Sushant Singh Rajput's Kedarnath (2018).

Trade analyst Akshaye Rathi says theatres across the board have slashed ticket prices in a bid to encourage footfall. "Most movie halls will open up by October 16. In the first few weeks, the revenue is not the focus. We need to rebuild the audience's habit of going to cinemas," he says, indicating that footfall may be low on the opening day. "We will instill confidence in the masses by following the standard operating procedures and ensuring their safety. The idea is to be war-ready by the time the big movies start releasing."

P V Sunil, managing director, Carnival Cinemas, reveals that apart from offering 25 per cent discount on tickets, the multiplex chain has rolled out several schemes. "COVID-19 warriors can watch movies free of cost. For the masses, we have developed a scheme where on buying two tickets, they will get a free ticket for their next outing."

There had been chatter that Rajput's Dil Bechara would be released again on the big screen. However, trade analyst Taran Adarsh says, "Exhibitors won't screen films that have premiered online as they feel these movies should have ideally been released in cinemas."
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Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 15, 2020)

After seven months of total shutdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the central government has given the green signal to reopen theatres, though many states such as Maharashtra are yet to join the bandwagon. Since then, the focus has been on the much-in-demand, lucrative Diwali weekend.

As of now, only the Manoj Bajpayee-Diljit Dosanjh starrer Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari (SPMB) has been announced as the Diwali release. The Ishaan Khatter-Ananya Panday starrer Khaali Peeli, which earlier took the pay-per-view route, will hit the big screen on October 16. Plus, from this weekend onwards, Hollywood films such as My Spy, Force Of Nature and The Rental will open in theatres.

But will audiences turn up at cinemas? “People still have a lot of fear of Covid-19. So, they might go to theatres or give it a miss. But, it’s imperative for cinemas to reopen, as many livelihoods are at stake,” says trade analyst Taran Adarsh.

Insiders feel ‘smaller movies’ releasing on Diwali may have an added advantage too. As exhibitor-distribitor Akshaye Rathi puts it: “It’s true that during a pandemic, people may not turn up in big numbers to watch mid-budget films but such films may fly due to pent-up demand.”

Even before earning a single penny, theatre owners have to spend from their pockets to adhere to all safety guidelines. Estimates say it will cost ₹3-5 lakh per month. But exhibitors/theatre owners are ready. “We are mentally prepared that in the first couple of weeks, a month or even a couple of months, there may not be much revenues. What’s most important is that we need to reintroduce and help inculcate the ‘theatre habit’ in people again,” says Rathi, adding: “Till you don’t open the shop, how will you know whether there’s a demand for your product?”

Filmmakers are keen to see theatres running again. “As a film aficionado, I am very excited. I feel people are fed up of sitting at home,” says Suraj Pe... director Abhishek Sharma, adding: “The movie exhibition sector has suffered maximum losses. I’m happy that my film will, in a way, kick off the theatre culture again.”