People are out and about after lockdowns lifted, back in malls, restaurants, travelling to hill stations. Life seems to be getting back on track for almost every sector, except theatres. They are yet to get the permission to open in key Bollywood markets such as Maharashtra and Delhi, and owners are not too happy. Especially since even stadiums got the go-ahead to reopen in the Capital.

Rajender Singh Jyala, chief programming officer, INOX, says while a few states have allowed theatres to reopen, “Maharashtra makes up for 30-35% of Bollywood collections. It is high time theatres are allowed to reopen. In Delhi, barring theatres, everything is open”.

Exhibitor Akshaye Rathi feels the treatment of theatres has been a bit ‘unfair’. “There are so many who are the only earning members of their families. It has been pretty brutal for the film exhibition sector. All other sectors, like restaurants, can do home deliveries and function some or the other way. They have some income, if you measure against that barometer,” he points out.

A lot of hopes were being pinned on upcoming big films to revive the theatre business, including Bellbottom, Sooryavanshi, Laal Singh Chadha, Maidaan and ’83. However, with no word on theatres reopening, their owners are not sure about what the future holds.

This leads to a feeling of ‘helplessness’, as Manoj Desai, executive director of G7 Multiplex, also puts it. “Kya karein, we are losing a lot. We are paying property tax, water tax, minimum electricity bill. There is no incoming, all outgoing. It is not justified. Hum toh 50% seating capacity mein bhi taiyaar hain, authorities soch hi nahi rahe, hamari taraf dekh hi nahi rahe,” he rues. Desai adds that there have been multiple meetings of the multiplex and single screen associations, but nothing has happened yet.

Arguing that places like malls and flights are way riskier is trade expert Atul Mohan. He says a ‘fear factor’ has been generated. “Cinemas are closed first, and then not given permissions to reopen, this has made people believe cinema halls are a dangerous place. Restaurants and planes have the same seating conditions, in fact the latter is more cramped. Theatres still have some space,” he shares.