The first two days at the cinemas in Maharashtra — after they were permitted to reopen following the seven-and-a-half-month lockdown closure — were uneventful, to say the least. That’s because hardly any cinemas actually reopened. And there were several reasons for that.
For one, the order permitting cinemas to restart operations from 5th November came just just a day earlier (4th November). It is anybody’s guess that restarting cinemas, which have been closed for nearly 230 days, is not an easy task. Cleaning the cinemas and following the hygiene protocols warranted by the state government require both, time and money. What’s more, many cinemas had retrenched many staff members to save on salaries, and recruiting new or some of the same hands requires time. Housekeeping staff in many multiplexes was on contract basis, and their services were, of course, terminated to save on costs. They also need to be recalled. Many cinemas had got their electricity and power disconnected, necessitating fresh connections.
Another major reason for the lack of excitement is that there are no new films which have released since the day (15th October) cinemas in any part of the country reopened. It may be recalled that the Centre had announced that cinemas could reopen from 15th October but had made it mandatory for cinemas in each state to seek permission from the respective state government. The state governments were required to assess the coronavirus situation in their states before granting cinemas permission to reopen. Since cinemas all over the country haven’t still reopened and since the reopening of cinemas in Maharashtra was of paramount importance because Maharashtra contributes a good amount of the earnings of films, producers were not announcing new film releases at all. That had a dampening effect on cinemas because it is common knowledge that repeat-run films do not attract crowds. Even otherwise, footfalls at the single-screen cinemas and multiplexes, in the states in which they had reopened before Maharashtra, can best be described as dismal, by and large.
Another reason for cinemas to feel disheartened is that the differences between multiplexes on the one hand and producers/distributors on the other remain unsolved. While producers/distributors are unwilling to pay Virtual Print Fee (VPF) and are demanding a higher share in net collections and a shorter window between theatrical and digital/satellite release, multiplexes are unwilling to grant these ‘concessions’. Single-screen cinemas have proven to be more sympathetic towards the demands of producers/distributors.
Of course, some solution to the aforesaid problems between exhibitors and producers/distributors will be found, new films will ultimately be released, and cinemas will recruit employees and contractual staff but since all these are taking time, the full-fledged reopening is taking its own sweet time.
Yes, even while cinemas were pleading with the Centre first and the various state governments after that to grant them permission to reopen, they are dragging their feet after the permission has been granted.