Some cinema owners are gearing up! Work at breakneck speed has started. After all, business has been at zero level for five-and-a-half months. There’s still no indication when multiplexes and single-screen cinemas will reopen. Still, the cinemas under question have begun work in right earnest. However, there is simply no joy, no happiness in sight. Rather, although preparations are afoot, the atmosphere is sombre. It’s because the owners of such cinemas are tightening their seat belts… to shut down forever!
Yes, sad but true! News has come in that a number of single-screen cinemas in India are now faced with the prospect of permanent closure. Rather than live in false hope that they would be able to conduct business once the government grants cinemas permission to reopen, owners of many cinemas have taken the tough decision of downing shutters for good. They have even started to settle the gratuity and other accounts of their employees. In other words, they have informed their permanent staff that they do not intend starting operations again. The pandemic lockdown has, in a manner of speaking, so broken the backbones of such cinemas that they might never be able to stand up again. There are some multiplexes, too, which face the same prospect of closure but action in that direction has not started.
Cinemas have fixed costs like rentals, property taxes, etc., besides staff salaries (probably reduced salaries due to the pandemic lockdown). With zero revenues since mid-March, it has become very difficult for cinema owners to continue paying salaries and rents. The government has been ignoring the film industry not just in terms of not allowing cinemas to reopen but also by not announcing any reliefs or concessions for the industry. Gujarat exhibitor Vandan Shah recently commented that it was tough for cinemas to maintain their properties without any income in the lockdown.
The Multiplex Association Of India (MAI) yesterday morning (4th September) put out a video with the hashtags ‘SupportMovieTheatres’ and ‘SaveCinemasSaveJobs’. Ironically, while on the one hand, cinemas are hopefully waiting for government orders for their reopening, there are several which can see the dead end. An industry insider revealed, “Around 10% single-screen cinemas and 5% multiplexes will not reopen after the lockdown is lifted because they will not be able to stand on their feet again after the heavy lockdown losses. Additionally, the cost of sanitation and hygiene protocols will add to their tale of woes if they resume operations.”