From tomorrow (February 1), cinemas in the country will be allowed to operate at cent per cent capacity. The I & B ministry on January 30 issued a circular of the new SOPs to be observed from February 1. In the said circular, it made it clear that cinemas could now function at full capacity as part of the eased restrictions of the COVID-19 lockdown. Of course, the COVID-19 protocols will have to be continues to be followed by the cinemas and their staff. It may be mentioned here that ever since cinemas reopened on October 15, 2020 after a seven-month closure, they have been working at half their capacity.
Looking to the decline in the number of coronavirus cases, the I & B ministry has now permitted cinemas to operate at 100% capacity. Of course, each state government has to now decide whether cinemas in their jurisdiction will be allowed to function at full capacity.
The news was met with excitement and joy in trade circles. It is felt that producers of big films will now announce their releases as they were waiting for cinemas to operate at full capacity. Of course, no major film has still been announced 24 hours after the announcement by the I & B ministry. People in the trade as well as among the public are awaiting the release schedules of such biggies as Sooryavanshi and 83. Both these films were ready for release last year. In fact, Rohit Shetty’s Sooryavanshi was to have hit the screens in March 2020 but the pandemic lockdown was announced just days earlier. Kabir Khan’s 83 was slated to release on April 10 last year.