MUMBAI : While Unlock 1.0 saw the reopening of certain sections after agreeing to follow the guidelines by the government, there is still a no for the multiplexes. So, with the government preparing for Unlock 2.0,, Multiplex Association has requested the government to reopen the theatres and let them function. They believe that they can set an example for crowd control and social distancing measures by taking all necessary precautions. All theatres have been shut down from March 20 due to the lockdown imposed owing to the Coronavirus pandemic. This has led to a 1500 crore business loss for the industry .

(ALSO READ : Multiplex body unhappy with govt decision to keep theatres shut amid Unlock 2.0)

In the recent statement officially released by MIA, it read, “As compared to the unorganised retail and shops that have been opened up, multiplexes and cinema are part of the organised sector, playing hosts to 'revenue paying' customers only and hence, in a better position to limit crowds unlike marketplaces and deploy all the mechanisms and guidelines for crowd control and social distancing.” The statement had also mentioned that multiplexes employ 2 lakh people all over India on an average which translates into 60% of revenue generation in the film industry, which means many people’s livelihood depends on it. 

“The livelihoods of more than a million people – right from the spot boys to makeup artists, musicians, designers, technicians and engineers to cinema employees to directors and actors – hinges on the survival of Indian cinema. The lockdown has literally brought the entire industry to a standstill with losses mounting every passing day,” read the statement after that.

Laten on it also states that countries like USA,UAE,France, Italy, Belgium, Malaysia, Spain, Netherlands and Austria have opened  up their multiplexes to a warm welcome so we should also expect the same.

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(ALSO READ : Multiplex body urges B'wood not to release films on OTT amid lockdown)