Though the Kerala government has allowed theatres to reopen from January 5 at 50% occupancy and following all Covid-19 protocols, theatre owners in the State are yet to draw up a plan on how to go about it.
MC Bobby, secretary, Film Exhibitors United Organisation of Kerala (FEUOK), says, “It’s obvious theatres won’t open on Tuesday. We have decided to hold an executive meeting with all cine exhibitors, producers and distributors on January 5 and then decide on the future course of action. Now, it’s the time for every wing in the industry to work as a synergised team to lift Malayalam cinema.”
FEUOK’s decision, however, won’t have bearing on multiplex chains. An official from a multiplex chain in a prominent mall in Edappally, Kochi, tells us, “It’s unreasonable to think that theatres would reopen on January 5 because the facilities have been shut for 10 months. We have only done regular cleaning till now; we have to now sanitise and deep clean the facility. We also have to train the staff on the new processes and that would take some time.”
So, when would be a realistic date for multiplexes to reopen? “We have big releases including a Vijay-starrer on January 13 and will have to screen movies before that. Movies such as Tenet, Mulan and Wonder Woman 1984 are doing well in other States and we might start with those and then depending on the decision taken by distributors in Kerala, will also screen regional content accordingly.”
Meanwhile,
Malayalam movies
such as
Vellam
and
Sajan Bakery
are also in line to be among the first
Mollywood
releases after the lockdown.
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