By Qamar ZJ
Shut for seven months, multiplexes across the city will open this week in Bangalore with all the safety precautions mandated by the central government. There are offers to win back the theatre-going audience as well.
All tickets will now be priced at Rs 99 at most single screens and multiplexes on week days. On weekends, it will be Rs 150 on weekends and Rs 99 for the morning shows at Gopalan Cinemas. Cinepolis is charging Rs 110 while Fun Cinemas is offering them for Rs 90. Some single screens like Veerabhadreshwara theatre are selling regional movie tickets for Rs 60 (Balcony) and Rs 50 (second class). PVR is selling gold class tickets for Rs 199. These are almost a third of what they were pre-COVID, when tickets were priced between Rs 250 and Rs 300 on weekends and Rs 200 on week days. This might work against Kannada cinema as the ticket prices which were cheaper due to tax breaks earlier will now cost the same for non-Kannada films as the entry fee of Rs 99 is now common to both at the multiplexes.
There are more offers. PVR Cinemas is also giving away a flat 30% discount on tickets bought with the PVR Gift Card (a limited period offer), while Inox Movies is offering flat 25% off for ICICI credit card holders. However, there are no big ticket releases as they have been pushed back to Christmas and New Year.
Theatre chains such as PVR Cinemas have released videos on social media to publicise their safety measures, including glass safety shields at box offices, Aarogya Setu app status checks, electrostatic spray guns to disinfect the premises, door handles coated with antimicrobial films, and UV cabinets to disinfect packaged food. All other multiplexes are expected to emulate these, if they are not implementing them already.
Book My Show, the event ticketing app, has also outlined all the precautions being taken by cinemas in general, and is worth a look too. If you have some more nagging doubts, check out these detailed FAQs on cinemas. However, only individual cinemas will have to answer the question of whether outside food will be allowed inside the auditoriums. Only packaged food and drinks will be sold. There will be more counters to avoid crowding. You can also order online and collect it from the counter when it’s ready. Every employee will be tested for COVID-19 before being hired for the job to ensure zero transmission from their end.
Interestingly, children and senior citizens are allowed as the SOPs released by the government only advise such patrons to stay home, but don’t expressly ban them. Similarly, the Aarogya Setu app can be advised but not imposed on people. All air conditioning devices should be between 24 and 30 degrees centigrade with the relative humidity in the range of 40-70%. Mask wearing is compulsory both inside and outside the auditorium, except when eating or drinking. However, if you are wondering if prolonged wearing of masks is healthy, experts clarify that only those with breathing disorders will have a problem.
PVR Cinemas are opening today, while Gopalan Cinemas will do from October 18th. Some multiplexes and single screens will take more time to open. Some of the new releases this week include My Spy, Sardaar Ji, Carry On Jatta 2, Qismat, and The Pickup Artist, a Hinglish film. However, there are no big regional or international releases lined up this month. Some old films that will be re-released include Tanhaji, Thappad, John Wick: Chapter 3, Parasite, Love Mocktail, Shivaji Surathkal, Bheeshma, and Dream Girl.
Stay smart. Stay apart. And ensure that you follow the advice given below. Remember, no public activity is without risk. Experts suggest that you keep food consumption at the cinema halls to a minimum, and even avoid all public spaces if the virus is quite virulent in your neighbourhood.
