Mumbai: The pandemic has broken the back of the entertainment industry. It has hit the cinema owners and the people working at the theaters. The owners incurred major losses during lockdown period while employees working in single screen theaters and multiplexes have lost their jobs.
Bollywood producers have also appealed to the government to open theater so that people can get their job back.
A statement issued by the producers of Guild, a Bollywood producer’s association, states that the cinema exhibitors industry is incurring a loss of around 1500 crore every month due to the closure of theaters. This has led to an estimated loss of 9000 crore in 6 months of lockdown. There are around 10,000 screens across the country. More than 2 lakh people are employed in this sector. With the closure of theaters, this industry has lost crores.
The statement states, The malls, airlines, railways, retail, restaurants and gyms have been reopened under Unlock India. Recently announced unlock 4 has been allowed to open the metro and bars, then why not theaters. Theaters have better resources for maintaining sanitation and crowd management. They are able to follow social distance. Further statement describes how theaters are safe in the current situation.Cinema hall is managed privately, so it is possible to follow the necessary instructions.
The statement also supported it cause by citing example of other countries. The theaters are opened in China, Korea, UK, France, Italy, Spain, UAE, USA, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka following the safety standards. The opening of theaters in about 85 countries has received an encouraging response from the audience.
Dreams come to life with movies on the big screen. There are millions behind the screen who make that happen. Jobs are at stake. Can’t wait for cinemas to reopen! pic.twitter.com/FdYp46tGQR
— Producers Guild of India (@producers_guild) September 15, 2020
Due to the closure of theaters, many films have been released on the OTT platform, which were earlier on the big screen. These include films like Gulabo Sitabo, Gunjan Saxena, Lootcase, Sadak 2, Shakuntala Devi. In the coming years, some more films including The Big Bull, Laxmi Bomb are going to be released on OTT.