Tamil Nadu, Karnataka see closure of theatres; most single screens in Kolkata down shutters

The Tamil Nadu government has come out with a list of new restrictions in order to curb the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these measures is the indefinite closure of movie theatres in the state. 

According to a report by the news agency Press Trust of India (PTI), most of the single-screen theatres in Kolkata have been shut since Friday due to the sudden rise in coronavirus cases in the city. In fact, as per news reports, every second person testing for the virus in the city is turning out to be COVID-19 positive. 

An office-bearer from the Eastern India Motion Picture Association, told the agency, “Screenings will not be resumed before the situation turns conducive for the public to enjoy a film at a theatre without the fear of infection.” 

Satadeep Saha, co-owner of Ajanta Cinema and a multiplex chain, told the agency that even though theatres had resumed operations last year, they had been facing losses. “We have no alternative. We were chugging on despite poor footfall since October last year when the cinema halls reopened after lockdown. The surge in COVID-19 cases is another blow. We cannot afford to be oblivious to the emerging situation.” 

Theatres in Karnataka will be shut down from tomorrow as the state is going into a 'closedown' for two weeks. 

The Telangana Theatre Owner Association had announced the shutting down of the cinema halls for the same reasons last week.