The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has recommended reopening of cinema halls all over the country to the Union Home Ministry in the month of August. Amit Khare, the I&B Secretary said that Ajay Bhalla from the Home Ministry will take the final call.
Khare has suggested that the theatres can be allowed to reopen all over India as early as August 1 0r the end of the month. The alternative sitting formula will be considered . It will mean that alternate seats in the first row and then the next row be kept vacant and proceed in the fashion throughout. It will also include the two metre social distancing norm recommended by the Home Ministry.
While the cinema owners have pushed back on this idea and said that this formula is unwise and merely running films at 25 percent auditorium capacity is worse than keeping the cinemas shut.
The attendees of the meeting were media CEOs of several TV Channels, OTT platforms and Chairman, CII Media Committee.
