The ministry of home affairs has permitted cinemas to operate with more than 50% capacity with effect from 1st February. The ministry issued new COVID-19 guidelines today (January 27), paving the way for single-screen cinemas and multiplexes to operate at higher seating capacity. At present, cinemas are functioning at 50% of their capacities.
The MHA directive said that the cinemas will be permitted to operate at higher seating capacity subject to revised SOPs to be issued by the I & B ministry. The trade is hopeful that theatres will be permitted to run shows at 75-80% capacity. Another possibility is that families may be allowed to sit as a group without the alternate seating arrangement system.
It may be recalled that cinemas were permitted by the Centre to reopen post-lockdown from October 15. While many states allowed cinemas to restart operations from that date, there were several others which allowed cinemas to reopen from November and even later than that. Cinemas in Kerala reopened only last month. Rajasthan is yet to permit theatres to restart.
Big-budget and star-cast films have not yet released after the reopening because of the seating restrictions. While producers are waiting for the crowds to return to the cinemas in large numbers, the public is waiting for the big-ticket films to hit the screens. Thus, the scenario in the cinema industry is quite alarming. The easing of restrictions is expected to change that.