These have been trying times for people in all professional sectors. The economy is at an all-time low, and a considerable number of people are becoming unemployed day by day. This is especially true with the entertainment sector as the Indian film industry still relies heavily on its cinema chains and theatre experience.
It is estimated that the cinema exhibition industry may lose up to 9000 crores in these 6 months due to the lockdown and lakhs of people who were directly employed by this industry are now facing financial and personal problems.
The #unlockcinemasavejobs has been trending on twitter for some time now. Some of the big names in the business such as Girish Johar (A trusted trade analyst who has handled the distribution of more than a 100 films which include Hollywood, Bollywood as well as regional cinema), Taran Adarsh (well-renowned movie critic and business analyst) have shown their support for this movement by retweeting it and making their opinions known to the public.
Big cinema chains such as INOX have asked for permission to open up their theatres again with a stringent SOP in place.
As several of the gyms, restaurants, bars and yoga centres have already been permitted to open, cinema chains have been pushing for the opening of theatres and help save lakhs of jobs that have already been put into limbo due to these unforeseen circumstances.
Since the whole nation is now going into unlock mode and are thinking about bringing life back to normal the Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B) ministry has passed a recommendation to the Union Ministry to seek permission to open theatres throughout the country albeit with strict protocols.
I&B secretary Amit Khare has also suggested that strict distancing practices should be maintained keeping in mind the ever-present threat of COVID.
According to his suggestions theatres should have alternate seats in the first row and the next row vacant so that social distancing can be maintained.
Even though the country may be in unlock mode and businesses trying to resume, as usual, we must all be aware that the threat of the disease is very much still among us, but for every setback, there should be a comeback.
As we look to restart the economic wheel of the nation we hope that the entertainment industry can survive through it all and blossom again with all its grandeur and beauty for films are the soft power of India and cinemas continue to be the main form of entertainment for millions of Indians.
Films have and will always act as our bridge between our dreams and our reality, and it is time that we save the very many people who depend on their bread and butter from this industry.
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