Multiplexes will open with 50% occupancy in many states, Hollywood and regional films will be set up, Hindi films will be released after Maharashtra opens. Hollywood-regional films will be released in the beginning, will have to wait for Hindi films

Multiplexes will open in many states of the country from tomorrow. The country’s leading multiplex chains INOX, PVR and Cinepolis have announced to re-open their screens. Multiplexes will open with 50% occupancy in most places. At present, no big Bollywood film will release. Only Hollywood and regional films will be shown.

Till the time no permission is given to open cinema halls in Maharashtra, there will be an atmosphere of uncertainty regarding the release of Hindi films. Now after unlocking, there has been an exemption to open cinemas with 50% occupancy in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Cinemas have been allowed to open in Telangana with 100% occupancy.

Expectations from Fast and Furious

Film distributor Akshay Rathi said that it is a matter of happiness that all major multiplex chains are starting from 30th July. In the states where permission is given, single screens have also started. Many Hollywood movies do good business not only in multiplexes but also in single screens. Like the ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise has always been a hit. ‘The Conjuring’ is also a horror movie and it also has a special audience in single screen.

Akshay says that apart from this, it has been announced to release Sonam Bajwa’s Pahwa film in Punjab. 3 movies are releasing in telugu. The release of three films has also been announced in Gujarat. It is expected that for the next 5-6 weeks, these films will attract a good audience.

Booking starts in 112 cities

Online ticketing company BookMyShow told Bhaskar that till July 29, we are booking tickets for 264 cinema halls in 112 cities. This number is expected to increase further from July 30. Right now two new films are being booked in Telugu. Apart from this, re-releases of Hollywood’s Mortal Kombat, Godzilla vs Kong and Hindi’s ‘Radhe’ are also being booked.

When closed, how much damage

Cinemas in the country were closed in March 2020 during the first wave. After this, multiplexes were opened again in October 2020 with 50% capacity. Old Bollywood movies, Hollywood and regional movies continued till March 2021. During this, some films like Sooraj Pe Mangal Bhari, Ramprasad’s Tehrvin were also released in multiplexes but their business was not very special. Bollywood has suffered a loss of more than 2000 crores since March 2020. Hundreds of middle and lower budget films, including two dozen big budget films, are stuck. During this time many films have come on direct OTT, ranging from Gulabo Sitabo, Sadak-2, Ludo to the recent storm, Mimi and Hungama-2.

INOX will launch 30% screens in 10 states

INOX said that it is going to launch its screens in selected cities of ten states. Inox sources said that about 30% of the screen will open now. PVR said that in the states where permission is given, the screens of PVR will start from July 30. Vaccines have been given to all the staff. Both the staff and the spectators have to follow the guide line. Viewers have been asked to book tickets and food online.

Carnival will just wait

Kunal Sawhney, Senior Vice President, Carnival Multiplex Chain told Bhaskar that we will not be opening from tomorrow. We are waiting for the release of the big movie. Maybe on August 5 or after that we can start. Even if permission is not granted in Maharashtra and no Hindi movie release date is announced, we will start with Hollywood and regional movies in the first or second week of August.

Re-release trend in North India

Karan Bhatia, a cine distributor from Delhi and North India, told Bhaskar that many single screen owners have started showing ‘Radhe’ as well. Many honors are beginning with the re-release of other short Hindi films and the release of regional films.

Karan told that most of the cinemas in Punjab are starting from August 5. Theaters are opening in Bihar from August 10. Cinema houses have been opened in Agra, Kanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Bareilly, Allahabad, Aligarh and Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. On the other hand, cinema halls are still closed in cities like Meerut, Gorakhpur and Varanasi. He is waiting for some big release.

Still waiting in four big states

Karan Taurani, Senior Vice President, Elara Capital, said that at present, theaters are not allowed to start in states like Maharashtra, Orissa, Bengal, Tamil Nadu. All these states together have 32% share of Hindi films. Out of this, Maharashtra alone has 25% share. Till the time cinema halls start in Maharashtra, there is little hope of a Hindi film release.

Why are Hindi films waiting for Maharashtra?

Karan told that even if cinema halls open with 50% occupancy in Maharashtra, it will be beneficial for big films. It is estimated that if ‘Bell Bottom’ is released by the end of August, then its estimated collection can be 60 to 75 crores. If this film releases without Maharashtra, then this collection may drop by 20%.

More advantage for multiplex now

Karan also told that the single screen cinema owners of the north and western states of the country are expecting some concessions from the state governments. He will not open his cinema as soon as multiplexes, so now there can be profit according to the multiplex collection. Accordingly, the strategy to start with Hollywood films is right now.