Tepid response to resumption of cinemas in city

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 2

Multiplexes and cinemas reopened in the city on Sunday to a lukewarm response as only five to six tickets were sold in the first two days.

As the state government had cleared way for multiplexes and cinemas to reopen across the state, a few single-screen owners were still awaiting any further directions from the district administration and audience response.

New Normal

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• Audience capacity has been cut down to 50 per cent with proper distance between seats
• Sanitisation being carried out extensively throughout the multiplexes and sanitisers are available at multiple points
• A majority of the ticket booking is being done through online mode
• Food service inside cinema halls has been stopped and it will be available only through self-service
• Break time between movies, too, has been increased to 15 minutes
• The multiplexes choose to run Punjabi films and old releases as no new films are lined up for release

Most multiplexes, including PVR, Inox and Cinepolis cinemas reopened with limited screens functional, though the visitor footfall remained dismal. In the wake of pandemic, absence of new releases also kept audience at home.

Gurvinder Singh, manager, PVR cinemas, said: “The new norms have been implemented after reopening as per guidelines. The audience capacity for screens have been cut down to 50 per cent, with proper distance between seats. Sanitisation is being carried out extensively throughout the multiplex and sanitisers will be provided to visitors at multiple points. A majority of the ticket booking is being done through online mode though walk-ins are being catered to at ticket counters.”

The food service inside cinema halls has been stopped and food will be available only through self-service. The break time between movies, too, has been increased to 15 minutes. The multiplexes choose to run Punjabi films and old releases as no new films are lined up for release. “Bollywood has chosen digital platforms to release new movies and even people will wait for the new movies to be announced to come to theatres. It will take some time for business to pick up pace,” said Pramod Mehra, owner of Sangam cinemas.