Bengaluru: abandoned from the opening process again, the film industry has urged the government to allow multiplex and single screen to continue the show.
Dr Jairaj, President, Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, said the Executive Committee consisting of film producers, distributors and theater owners will meet on Monday and delegates will summon the BS Yediyurappa minister on Tuesday to ask him to allow film exhibitions.
“It is unfair to exclude the cinema from operation when air-conditioned metro and other public transport services are permitted with 100% residential,” Jairaj said.
“We asked the government to allow screening film.
This will stimulate the Kannada film industry which employs around 35,000 people.” Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee said film cinemas were removed from the opening process because of fear of crowding.
“Open 3.0 rules valid for two weeks from Monday, and more relaxation including the resumption of film filtering can be considered if the Covid case decreased further after July 19.
The minister’s chairman will make a last call,” said CN Ashwath Narayan, Deputy Minister , Deputy and Chair of the Covid-19 task force.
The shops in the mall were also disappointed because the owner believed that with multiplex was closed, footsteps would be low.
“Multiplex is a mainstay of the mall ecosystem because they contribute around 30% of footsteps,” said Manoj Singh, Head of Karnataka Cluster, Nexus, who has a chain of Mall and UB City.
“We are optimistic that the cinema will be allowed in the next round of open steps like a wave of pandemic with a steady receding.” There are around 200 multiplex screens in 36 malls in Bengaluru only and all ready to continue operations with safety steps on the spot, said Mohit Bhargava, Regional Director, Inox Leisure Limited.
However, a more depressed sector is the Singlescreen theater.
About 175 of the 635 theaters in the state have been permanently closed.
Jairaj said the best time to reopen the theater was mid-July because the film industry could cash in the celebration season which began with the beneficial month of Shravan in August.
Some large budget production such as KGF 2, Salaga, Kotigobba 2 and Bhajarangi 2 are ready to hit the screen.
Meanwhile, there was also a heartburn over the decision to keep the pub closed while allowing the bar to continue service.
“We do not understand the reason,” said G Honnagiri Gowda, President, the Karnataka wine merchant association.
“The only difference between the pub and bar is that the pub can serve a loose beer in Pitcher.
The government must also explain how to close the film space is very helpful in limiting pandemic when the entire business ecosystem is being opened.”