After suffering immeasurable losses over the past two years due to the Coronavirus pandemic, cinema halls, post running in fits and starts, have been finally permitted by the government of India to operate at a 100% capacity in Maharashtra, Delhi, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh. Needless to say, it has brought a wave of joy and relief to people from across the film fraternity.

Producer Amar Butala believes that the upcoming line-up of films such as Bachchhan Paandey and Runway 34 will bring in a large number of cinegoers to theatres. “It’s a welcome sign for both producers as well as the exhibition sector. With two long weekends, Holi and Eid, coming up, there are likely to be more footfalls in cinemas,” he explains.

Happy that theatres are running at a full capacity, Karnataka exhibitor B H Basha anticipates that the release of pan-India films such as RRR, Radhe Shyam and Etharkkum Thunindhavan will help improve the financial state of the exhibition sector: “The South states contribute immensely towards the film business. But my fear is that people have stopped wearing masks, thinking that the pandemic is over. I hope the 100% occupancy at theatres continues.”

Rajender Singh Jyala, CPO, Inox Leisure Limited, says, “We always thought that we can recover losses, but this is the fastest recovery we’re witnessing.”

Producer Anand Pandit adds, “We’ve already had a few blockbusters since theatres opened up and every exhibitor, distributor and producer is hoping that the pandemic doesn’t throw another spanner in the works to impair the progress that has been made.”