December 29: As Covid-19 cases rise again in the country, Delhi recorded 331 new cases on Monday, the largest single-day increase in 201 days. A fatal case of Covid-19 was also reported during the day. To control the situation, the Delhi government announced a yellow alert and took several strict restrictions, including a nighttime curfew and the closure of movie theaters.
It has become a major concern for the film industry, which was poised to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic last year and early this year. Now the Delhi government ordered movie theaters to close has impacted owners of multiplexes in the nation’s capital. The affected owners have written to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to reconsider the new rules and allow theaters to operate with appropriate guidelines and protocols.
Several Bollywood actors, including Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon, supported the multiplex association, which appealed to the Delhi government. Varun and Kriti, who will be sharing screen space in their upcoming film Bhediya, have extended their support at the request of multiplex owners. The actors shared the Multiplex Association of India (MAI) statement on their Instagram Stories and urged their fans to read and share it. They also urged the government to consider it.
MAI’s letter said the Delhi government’s decision would have an immense impact and could also cause “irreparable damage” to the film industry, as 2020 was the most difficult for the industry. “Not a single Covid-19 outbreak in the world has been attributed to a movie theater,” MAI said.
Image source: Instagram
He also stressed that the film industry should be treated the same as other industries and institutions. The MAI urged the Delhi government to introduce a dual vaccination requirement to enter cinemas like in Maharashtra and to apply a 50% capacity in each theater.
After a long hiatus, theaters started operating at 100% capacity in October. In July, the Delhi government authorized the operation of cinemas at 50% of the number of seats. Movie theaters were closed in April to control the second wave of Covid-19.
The government’s decision to shut down theaters immediately affected recently released films like 83, Spider-Man: No Way Home and Pushpa: The Rise – Part I. The announcement was a blow to the filmmakers, the owners. cinema, exhibitors and distributors. Theaters were just picking up with movies like Sooryavanshi, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Pushpa, bringing people back to theaters despite the 50% capacity rule in some states.
Amid rising Covid-19 cases, the first film to postpone its release is Shahid Kapoor and Mrunal Thakur, the Jersey star, due for release on December 31 of this year.
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