No change in theatre seating, say owners Rumours on gaps between seats dismissed

Rumours that theatre owners are re-planning seating arrangements, leaving a big gap between seats, have been dismissed by Sunil Narang of Asian Cinemas.

Sunil, who owns many multiplexes in the city, said, “It’s not true, and no one is arranging seats with a large gap.” He said he was not making any changes in any of his multiplexes.

“In every other theatre too, it’s normal and no changes will be made when the theatres and multiplexes open,” he added.

If such changes in the seating arrangement are to be made, the number of tickets will have to be reduced and this won’t be viable either for theatre owners or producers.

Balgovind Raj, owner of the prestigious Sudarshan Theatre at RTX Crossroads, says, “We conducted some trials, but we didn’t make any changes. We are all waiting for the Government rules and how they want to arrange the seating system.”

Uma Maheswara Ugra Roopasya, directed Maha Venkatesh of C/o Kancharapalem fame and produced by Shobhu Yarlagadda, who also made Baahubali, is to be released on an OTT channel before being screened in theatres.

Director Maha is disappointed, he says, “We made the film for a theatrical release.”

But he’s conscious of unprecedented constraints the present situation.

“We have to look at it from the producer’s perspective also,” he acknowledges.

The director, however, says he has requested the producers to release it in theatres by the of too when they eventually reopen.

“I don’t know how many people will watch my film on the OTT platform, so I requested the producers to talk to the channel people to release in theatres too after two months,” he adds.

The film, a remake of the Malayalam movie Maheshinte Prathikaaram, was supposed to be released in April, but got delayed due to the lockdown.

“After the government gave permission for post-production work, we have completed it and it is now ready,” says the director. Maha says his next film will take time. “I am still writing my next script. People talk about my debut film C/o Kancharapalem even after two years; I want them to talk about my next one for 10 years. So I am writing a strong script,” he says.

Mahesh Babu is gearing up for his next film, Sarkaru Vari Paata, directed by Parasuram of Geetha Govindam fame. The action drama has a strong message, said the actor.

Mahesh was replying to a fan on his social media question-andanswer session on Sunday.

The first look of the film was released on Sunday, on the occasion of the birthday of Mahesh Babu’s father Krishna. Meanwhile, a source said, the shooting for the film is scheduled to begin in October. The story revolves around a big bank fraud and the director has come up with a strong message in an entertaining way.

It’s not true, and no one is arranging seats with a large gap. In every other theatre too, it’s normal and no changes will be made when the theatres and multiplexes open

— Sunil Narang

I don’t know how many people will watch my film on the OTT, so I requested the producers to talk to the channel people to release in theatres too after two months

— Snippets by Suresh Kavirayani