Here’s How Multiplexes Are Gearing up to Welcome You Back!!

While still waiting for the government orders to reopen, the theatres and multiplexes are starting to chalk out the safety measures that would be followed once they get the go ahead signal. These past few months have been tough times for cinema owners around the world and the situation in India is no different. With the spread of a rapidly communicable disease, public gatherings and communal experiences (like going to the cinema) are being discouraged. With a large number of mainstream Hindi and regional films releasing on OTT platforms, and an overwhelming number of big-ticket Hindi films set to go direct-to-digital, theaters are seemingly being faced with a challenge to be as prepared as possible.

Various multiplex chains are readying themselves for the post COVID-19 situation. PVR team recently released a video showing demarcations at the ticket counters, food counters and lobbies, ensuring social distancing at all times and at all places. Patrons across all multiplex chains will be advised to wear a mask, for their own safety and the safety of fellow patrons. Instead of pat-down search there will be thermal screening and sanitisation at the entrances. The bookings will be done in a manner where the adjacent seats will be left vacant.

All major chains are striving to ensure that the delivery of food & beverages takes place in a 100% no contact manner. While PVR will use UV cabinets to disinfect food packaging before service, both INOX and Carnival say they will be employing single-use, disposable packaging in their F&B counters. At any given time only 50% of the washrooms will be operational inside the multiplex. According to Carnival cinemas, in order to have an orderly exit with the norms of social distancing in place, they will appoint staff to escort the customers. INOX will time their shows accordingly, in order to avoid any crowding during intervals and exits. All chains will ‘deep clean’ the auditorium after every show, and any spot that sees a frequency of patrons will be sanitised every two hours.

Alok Tandon, CEO (INOX Leisure Ltd), said in a statement, “We are looking at this post-COVID phase as a new chapter in the customer life-cycle, where their trust and confidence will play a massive role.” Most multiplex chains, including PVR and Carnival Cinemas, have released videos to persuade audiences that all precautionary measures are being taken, and that cinemas will reopen with the highest priority given to the safety of its customers.

With the recent news of Rohit Shetty’s Sooryavanshi and Kabhi Khan’s 83 to release on Diwali and Christmas respectively there have even speculations about what will be the theatre scenes once they reopen. While the directions for reopening are yet to come from the government, the cinema chains are preparing themselves for the time to come.