Bollywood on comeback trail as cinemas eye more footfall

Rise in occupancy will pave way for release of Hindi blockbusters: Multiplex operators

The wait could finally be over for Hindi movie buffs if the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) decides to increase the seating capacity within theatres. On Wednesday, the MHA said it would permit cinema halls to operate at higher occupancy levels, adding that the enhancement would be made in revised guidelines that would be issued shortly.

Currently, occupancy levels within theatres are capped at 50 per cent in line with social distancing norms. However, as the Covid-19 case load in the country reduces and the vaccine roll-out progresses, multiplex operators said that movie halls could now accommodate more people.

“The economy has completely unlocked and things are slowly getting back to normal. In view of this, I think the cap on seating within theatres can be lifted. While the MHA has not specified revised occupancy levels yet, we are hoping it will be 75 per cent to begin with,” Kunal Sawhney, senior vice-president, operations, Carnival Cinemas, said.

Revised guidelines by the MHA are expected in the next two days, following which the state governments will issue new standard operating procedures for theatres. The new guidelines will be effective February, implying that March could be see seating capacity enhanced to 100 per cent, if the Centre and states are comfortable. Also, theatres in Rajasthan and Jharkhand that were shut so far are also likely to reopen next month, exhibition industry sources said.

For Bollywood all of this spells good news as big releases are assured of footfalls, a critical component of the movie business. Around 40 per cent of a movie’s revenue comes from the box office, which is, in turn, dependent on footfalls and ticket price.

Movies that could take off first include Akshay-kumar-starrer Sooryavanshi and 83, featuring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, by March and April, respectively.

“There is pent-up demand for good films. And there are 30 movies in Hindi that are ready for release since they could not be launched because of the Covid-19 pandemic. So, 2021 could be see the comeback of Bollywood and the film exhibition business,” said Devang Sampat, chief executive officer, Cinepolis India, said.

Regional films have already responded positively to reopening of cinemas despite a cap of 50 per cent on occupancy. Master, a Tamil-language film released on January 14 during Pongal, has been declared a hit, with box office collections pegged at ~200 crore so far, trade analysts said. The success has prompted regional filmmakers in the southern states to line-up new films.

On the Hindi side, a handful of mostly small and mid-budget films have released so far, including Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi, Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari, Shakeela, Madam Chief Minister, and Indoo Ki Jawani.

Big-ticket movies that await release include Jayeshbhai Jordaar, Laal Singh Chaddha and Radhe, starring Ranveer Singh, Aamir Khan, and Salman Khan, respectively. Some other blockbusters include Maidaan, starring Ajay Devgn and Shahid Kapoor’s Jersey.

Of the 9,600 screens in India, 70 per cent are single screens and 30 per cent are multiplex screens. But multiplexes earn more than half of India’s theatrical revenues, putting the pressure on them to ensure that safety, hygiene and content standards are met.

While the average ticket price for multiplex operators is ~150-200, the first few months will see a 20-25 per cent discount to encourage visits. Discounts are also expected on food and beverages, with bookings, check-in, and food ordering all going contactless as part of the standard operating procedures.