SHOULD MAHARASHTRA REOPEN CINEMA HALLS AND DRAMA THEATRES?
It is not logical or fair to keep a particular section shut when everything else has been reopened. In Mumbai, the fully vaccinated people are allowed on local trains. The malls have reopened, the restaurant timings have been extended, then why are cinema halls and theatres shut? Why are the owners of cinema halls and theatres being penalised when they are assuring the government that they will maintain social distancing on their premises? We ask a few citizens what their take is on the matter.
Those who are fully vaccinated should be allowed inside cinema halls and drama theatres as long as everyone adheres to precautions such as social distancing.
The film and drama industries have suffered great losses. The pandemic had a detrimental effect on the industry. The shoots of films and live shows were halted twice.
The business had come to a complete standstill. So I think this is the right time that theatres should be reopened.
Narayan Ghadge
Idon't think the government should reopen cinema halls and theatres just yet. Even now, many citizens are not following basic hygiene habits, hence it will be risky to reopen cinema halls till all are vaccinated.
Asha Trivedi
It is not just about watching movies. Reopening cinema halls is muchneeded because people who have been employed in this sector are undergoing extreme hardships. Some of them have not been paid in months. The state government has allowed shooting of films, serials, etc so even cinemas and drama theatres should be allowed to reopen considering peoples' livelihood is at stake. Sandesh Panchal
My view is that reopening cinema halls and theatres should be kept on hold till the festive season is over. We really don't know what the third wave of the pandemic will be like, and when it will hit us. Also, many Mumbaikars are not fully vaccinated yet. We should wait till at least 50% of Mumbai’s population is fully vaccinated. Arun Pethe
Cinema halls and drama theatres should be reopened in a phased manner. Only those who are fully vaccinated should be allowed inside. Almost everywhere in the country, cinema halls have been allowed to resume, and the same should be done in Mumbai. This is, after all, the home of Hindi and Marathi film industries and scores of people are dependent on these industries. —Adwait Mishra
The state government decided not to reopen cinema halls, drama theatres and multiplexes considering the possibility of a third wave. The cinema halls and theatres are a cause of concern. Most citizens don't follow the protocols. Also, sanitisation of chairs and other furniture and keeping alternate chair vacant is difficult to maintain. We know the mob psychology; people hardly follow the safety norms. In such a situation, reopening cinema halls is not safe. Radhika Shedge
An increasing number of people are getting fully vaccinated in Mumbai on a daily basis and I see no harm in reopening of cinema halls. Just like the local trains a r e available for the fully vaccinated citizens, the government should reopen cinema halls and theatres as well for vaccinated people. In that way, this will help the industry which is going through difficult times due to the pandemic.
—Santosh Kadam