West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has allowed cinemas to run in the state to ease restrictions ahead of the Durga Puja festival. Other cultural congregations such as plays, music, dance and magic shows will also be allowed from October 1, albeit with a ceiling of 50 people. With the announcement, Bengal becomes the first state in the country to restart theater operations. Cinema is a state issue in India.
“To return to normality, the jatras, plays, open-air theaters, cinemas and all musical, dance, recital and magic shows will be able to function with 50 participants or less as of October 1, subject to compliance of the rules of physical distancing, use of masks. and adherence to precautionary protocols, “Banerjee tweeted Saturday night.
Freelance exhibitor Akshaye Rathi was one of the first to react to the tweet and said it would be great if this was a signal to the rest of the country. The Interior Ministry that presents guidelines in each unlocking phase has so far denied reopening permits to cinemas that have been closed since mid-March. The Indian film industry has incurred losses of around Rs. 3 billion rupees in all languages in the six months that theaters have been closed.
Single screen and multiplex owners have been running social media campaigns throughout this month to protest the denial of reopening permits. As sectors such as aviation and shopping malls have already reopened, it is unfair to keep the industry out, especially with around 20 lakh of jobs at stake, they have argued.
.
