Showing posts with label Rajeev Patni. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rajeev Patni. Show all posts
Multiplexes with discount on tickets, freebies pull in crowds; thin audience at other screens
8:14 AM
Nitasha Natu & Sharmila Ganesan Ram | TNN (THE TIMES OF INDIA; October 23, 2021)
Mumbai: Multiplexes and theatres reopened on Friday after nearly a year to relatively sparse crowds, except for those movie halls that had offers and freebies for audiences.
One of the reasons was Covid guidelines issued by the government. Besides temperature checks and green ticks on the Aarogya Setu app, some patrons had to furnish vaccine certificates and adapt to the new normal, given that theatres were allowed to operate at 50% capacity.
At a Borivali multiplex, a very disappointed teenager walked away from the box office with his mother on being denied entry as he was underage, despite the government not mandating any such requirement.
To draw in audiences, some multiplexes had free morning shows, a few threw in a free tub of popcorn per ticket purchased and others had heavily discounted ticket prices. “We were almost sold out for morning shows across all our multiplexes in Maharashtra. The overall turnout during the day has been reminiscent to the pre-Covid days and we are certain that the sentiment would remain like this,” said Rajeev Patni, COO, Inox Leisure.
Siddhesh, a Thane-based engineering graduate, turned up at least 15 minutes early to catch the 9.55 am show of the latest James Bond movie. “I’m here for the experience,” said Siddhesh while waiting for three of his friends.
While Pooja Parikh, who caught a morning show of the new Marvel movie at Nariman Point, said it’s important to follow safety protocols, she accepted the inability to ask friends in the adjacent seat about complex movie scenes and the prospect of eating her movie staple — cheese popcornin the foyer as minor tradeoffs for the communal viewing experience. Four 20-something students converged at a Borivali movie hall after “much research” as only selected movie halls were screening the Marvel movie and the group “had not missed a single one till date”.
These two movies are the only releases that are drawing audiences for now, according to box office staff. Some multiplexes like Carnival Cinemas have opened fewer properties at present because of limited content available. “We are confident that footfall will increase on November 5 when we have two big-ticket releases. We plan to throw open all our properties then,” said Prashant Kulkarni, senior vice-president, sales marketing, Carnival Cinemas.
Multiplex managements said that audiences appeared more comfortable with stepping out now as compared to last year.
“When we had reopened cinemas for a short spell in October-November 2020, some guests were apprehensive about using washrooms. Now, masking up and sanitizing have become a way of life. Besides, our staff are 100% vaccinated and that inspires confidence," said a multiplex owner.
Single screens did not share the same experience as multiplexes. At Thane’s Vandana talkies, the larger-than-life crow sculpture that welcomes visitors, seemed desolate. The theatre was among the single screens in the city that remained shut.
Nitin Datar of Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India stated that some single-screens are waiting for the big releases to reopen their gates and fortunes. Among those that reopened were Maratha Mandir, whose manager noted a drop in footfalls for their longest-running 11:30 am show. “Vaccine,” answered the monosyllabic manager when asked for the reason for this dip.
Despite the lukewarm first-day-first-show turnout and the dwindling single-screens though, film critic Dilip Thakur remained optimistic. “The craze for films and cricket will never die.”
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Dy CM: Decision on 100% theatre ops after Diwali
Pune: Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Friday said the decision on allowing theatres and auditoriums to operate at 100% capacity would be taken post Diwali, after assessing the Covid situation in the state.
“It would be considered only if cases continue to decline as the state has announced unlocking for all sectors. The Coronavirus situation would be assessed a week after Diwali,” he said. After the weekly Covid review meeting of Pune district, Pawar said India’s feat of 1 billion vaccinations was due to planners and health fraternity.
As cinemas are set to restart in August, industry insiders speak what will play on the big screen
8:38 AM
As film theatres get set to restart next month, we talk to industry insiders as to how they are prepping for it, and what content will be shown on the big screen
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 29, 2020)
GETTING USED TO THE NEW NORMAL
After close to four months of being non-operational due to Coronavirus lockdown, the Multiplex Association of India (MAI)’s second list of a much-detailed SOPs (standard operating procedures) was received positively by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Cinema owners hope that they get permissions starting August as part of the Unlock 3.0 relaxations.“This is a more detailed version that we submitted to the government and the response has been positive. I hope that by this month or by the beginning of September, theatres will be up and running,” shares Kamal Gianchandani, CEO, PVR Pictures Ltd.
The new set of SOPs include provisions like one screen at a time, social distancing to be ensured while booking seats, discontinuing use of paper tickets, and the customers are required to wear a facemask mandatorily. Even PPE Kits, containing gloves, masks and sanitisers will be kept available for sale, at reasonable prices.
Devang Sampat, CEO, Cinepolis, says, “Normal sanitisation is something that we’re reinforcing like cleaning of seats, washrooms etc.” He also adds, “About 70% screens that we operate are at malls, which are open, so we don’t see any other issue arising from the state government once the centre gives a go-ahead.”As of now the release dates of only Sooryavanshi on Diwali and ’83 on Christmas have been announced. So, will there be other films as well?
“There are a quite a few films which are 80-90% ready. But first we need to open. We are prepared and keen to welcome back guests,” explains Rajeev Patni, COO, INOX, Leisure Ltd.
Calling it a much-needed relief, film exhibitor Akshaye Rathi says that “it is time for cinemas to make up for the losses that they incurred in the last four months”.
Winning back the confidence of the customers is the priority for theatre owners. “We will make sure that there is safety but it does not interfere with the joy of movie going experience,” says Gianchandani, adding that he is not worried about people not willing to shell out ticket prices.
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Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 29, 2020)
WHAT WILL PLAY ON THE BIG SCREEN?
Finally, the silver screens may brighten up again. The Home Ministry is likely to green-light the reopening of cinema halls, from August onwards, as part of Unlock 3.0. But are theatres ready? And what will they run in their cinema halls, with no fresh content available?
“In the first couple of weeks, we’ve to look at re-releasing old films. Honestly, even we wouldn’t want a huge rush initially as it’d give us time to see how our new systems, with all the [Covid-19 induced] SOPs, are working,” says exhibitor-distributor Akshaye Rathi, adding that theatres are looking at mid-range Hindi films such as Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar and Khaali Peeli, besides Hollywood biggies such as Tenet, Mulan and Wonder Woman 1984, and also dubbed south Indian films, before tent-pole films start releasing from October.At the same time, exhibitors-cinema halls owners agree in unison that “there is no clarity on SOPs yet” by the authorities. “A logical and viable set of SOPs have to be worked out. I can’t open my cinema hall to face economic losses; I would rather keep it shut,” says Suman Sinha, owner of the Regent theatre in Patna, adding: “At the start, we have to look at re-releasing old films. But the catch is that we can’t charge a premium for such movies. We may have to reduce the prices.”
For Maratha Mandir and G7 Multiplex’s executive director Manoj Desai, the “need of the hour is that the government should help us vis-à-vis taxes such as property tax and GST etc.” “Also, what’s the point in running old films? No one would turn up. One suggestion is that at the start we should show old films for free to get people in. Then, how would I recover all the expenses of a cinema hall?” he says.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh feels theatres have to “take baby steps at the start.” “Initially, cinema hall owners should look at re-running masala entertainers such as Baahubali 2 and War etc.,” he concludes.
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