MAI Welcomes Govt’s Move to Reopen Theatres, PVR Says No Time to Die, Tenet Among First Films to Release

“We look forward to welcoming back moviegoers to a safe and an amazing brand new experience at our cinemas,” the statement added.

On the other hand, Dutta told Times Now, “You have to wear a mask while buying the food, but once you’re in your seat you’re free to not wear it and enjoy the movie… This is the new order and the new way for a movie experience. There might be friction initially but people and consumers will come around. We have seen that across businesses and everything opening up be it airports, metro, rail, buses all opening up. We are all learning to live it and it should be no different for the cinema either.”

When asked if multiplex chains have new titles to release, Dutta said, “Only a handful of 30-31 movie titles including from down South and Bollywood have been released on the OTT Platforms, which is just about 2-2.5% of regular releases in the given period. The verdict is clear. Everyone in the industry understands the importance of the movie exhibition sector. We have enough content till March.”

The coronavirus induced country-wide lockdown was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from March 25 and it was extended in phases till May 31. The Unlock process in the country had begun on June 1 with the graded reopening of commercial, social, religious and other activities.