Indians
love
to
venture
out
to
watch
movies
with
families
and
friends
but
will
the
cinema
viewing
change
post
Novel
Coronavirus
(COVID-19)?
FilmiBeat
speaks
to
the
cinema
exhibition
industry
leads
and
cinema
trade
experts
in
India
to
understand
how
movie-watching
will
change
after
the
lockdown
is
over.
Alok
Tandon,
CEO,
Inox
Cinemas
feels
nothing
is
going
to
change
post
COVID-19.
He
says,
"We
are
absolutely
sure
that
cinema-going
is
not
going
to
change
at
all
in
our
country
post
COVID-19.
We
know
that
with
our
concerted
efforts,
combined
with
the
passion
for
cinema
viewing
in
our
country,
we
will
witness
the
same
fervour
and
vibrancy
in
the
business,
something
which
we
have
been
known
for."
But
seeing
the
global
aftermath
of
Coronavirus,
there
might
be
some
fear
in
movie-goers'
minds
and
some
people
might
need
convincing
to
step
into
the
theatre
to
watch
movies.
To
this,
Tandon
says,
"It
would
require
us
to
do
a
lot
to
gain
the
confidence
of
our
patrons
and
we
have
identified
various
ways
to
deal
with
it.
On
the
operational
front
as
well,
we
will
have
to
innovate
and
think
differently
to
ensure
social
distancing
once
the
cinemas
resume
services.
We
will
continue
to
carry
out
temperature
checks
at
the
entrances.
Hand
sanitisers
will
remain
available
across
the
floor.
Deep
cleaning
and
disinfecting
processes
will
continue
to
remain
intense."
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But
how
do
you
maintain
social
distancing
inside
the
auditorium?
Tandon
cites
some
precautionary
measures
to
make
the
cine-goer
feel
secure.
He
says,
"Cross-allocation
of
seats
is
one
measure,
which
would
allow
us
to
ensure
that
two
guests
are
not
assigned
adjacent
seats.
We
will
have
to
block
the
seats
accordingly,
so
that
the
seats
are
available
in
this
manner,
whether
booking
at
the
box
office,
or
on
an
online
platform."
He
adds,
"Another
measure
can
be
to
programme
the
shows
in
such
a
manner
that
intermissions
of
two
shows
do
not
occur
simultaneously.
This
will
help
us
to
ensure
that
the
food
counters
and
restrooms
do
not
get
too
crowded.
We
will
keep
the
intensity
high
on
kitchen
stewarding."
But
this
will
result
in
lesser
number
as
far
as
seat
occupancy
is
concerned.
And,
of
course,
the
HOUSEFULL
scenario
is
likely
to
change.
Tandon
says,
"We
may
even
consider
limiting
the
overall
seat
allocation
to
50-60%
for
some
shows
to
control
overcrowding,
if
the
need
arises."
This
arrangement
might
affect
the
box
office
openings
and
hamper
the
overall
collection
of
a
film.
Increasing
the
ticket
rates
is
also
not
an
option
since
the
economy
is
already
hit
badly
and
people
will
think
twice
before
spending
lavishly
on
tickets
plus
popcorn,
snacks
and
beverages
at
the
movies.
The
only
good
thing
coming
out
of
this
will
be
that
movies
might
stay
in
theatres
for
more
weeks,
albeit
if
movie-goers
continue
to
step
out
of
their
homes.
The
situation
for
Hollywood
movies
is
similar.
Most
of
the
cinema
halls
in
USA
are
temporarily
closed
and
most
film
releases
put
on
hold,
while
the
cinema
halls
in
some
pockets
are
following
the
directives
of
the
World
Health
Organization
(WHO).
Mohan
Umrotkar,
CEO,
Carnival
Cinemas,
also
hints
at
following
the
same
post
the
lockdown.
He
says,
"The
WHO
has
suggested
maintaining
a
metre
(or
about
three
feet)
distance
between
people.
Depending
on
the
situations,
Carnival
might
restrict
the
number
of
maximum
ticket
buyers
per
screen.
We
want
to
assure
our
audience
that
our
theatres,
seats
and
concession
areas
are
being
thoroughly
and
frequently
cleaned
during
this
time
also.
Our
in-cinema
and
security
staff
shall
continue
using
the
masks
and
gloves
to
maintain
the
hygiene
and
shall
provide
it
to
the
patrons
on
request
as
well."
Umrotkar
further
adds,
"This
kind
of
situation
is
unique
and
hence
demands
extraordinary
measures.
After
the
end
of
lockdown,
when
the
authorities
will
allow
us
to
open
our
doors
to
the
public,
to
counter
the
spread
of
COVID-19,
Carnival
Cinemas
shall
follow
the
global
hygiene
norms
and
shall
introduce
'seat
separation'
policies,
along
with
sanitisation
and
deep
cleaning
of
auditoria
in
between
shows
to
help
facilitate
social
distancing.
Hand
sanitisers
are
available
at
all
touch
points
in
cinemas
since
February
2020
and
we
will
keep
it
till
the
threat
of
the
Coronavirus
pandemic
doesn't
subside."
With
the
lockdown
in
India
likely
to
be
extended,
there
are
no
film
releases
to
happen
before
June
2020.
Most
trade
pundits
feel
that
the
audience
will
only
trickle
in
post
lockdown,
and
initially
small
films
might
make
their
way
to
the
cinemas.
Trade
expert
Komal
Nahta
says,
"It
is
not
going
to
be
immediate
and
it
all
depends
on
how
secure
the
public
is
going
to
be
about
their
safety,
and
whether
Coronavirus
is
out
of
India
or
not.
Things
will
be
get
better
but
it
is
going
to
take
a
while.
It
depends
on
how
much
we
are
able
to
control
the
spread
of
the
virus."
Nahta
points
out,
"People
have
to
forget
festivals
like
Eid
and
Diwali.
In
June
2020,
things
will
start
with
smaller
films.
Big
entertainers
will
have
to
wait
even
longer
because
the
world's
cinema
have
to
open;
as
40
percent
of
the
revenue
share
comes
from
there
and
they
cannot
possibly
forgo
that.
It
is
a
very
sad
state
of
affairs
at
present."