Despite authorities nod, theatres stay closed in Kerala

Despite the Kerala authorities’s nod for cinemas to reopen on Tuesday, after being shut for months as a result of COVID-19 induced lockdown, theatres remained closed because the movie business needed the authorities to deal with its calls for and considerations earlier than resumption.
There are over 1,200 screens in conventional theatres and multiplexes within the southern state, which exhibit motion pictures.
Sources on the Kerala Film Chamber and Commerce (KFCC), an apex physique of the associations of producers, distributors and exhibitors, stated it could take a remaining determination on reopening of the cinemas after its emergency assembly scheduled to be held in Kochi on January 6.
The business gamers needed the federal government to deal with a number of calls for starting from waiving leisure tax to forego mounted electrical energy prices slapped on theatres though it had remained shut for over 10 months.
“Various film associations have submitted several representations detailing our worries and concerns. But, the government is yet to give a clear reply,” a KFCC office-bearer informed P T I.
“Though we were told that there would be an announcement in this regard soon after the local body polls, it is yet to come. The only thing that happened was the announcement of the Chief Minister giving nod to reopen theatres,” he stated.
Theatre house owners had requested the federal government to forego mounted electrical energy prices, imposed on cinemas though they remained shut.
Waiver of leisure tax was additionally among the many many different calls for raised by the business gamers. “Kerala may be the only state where the entertainment tax is collected in addition to the Goods and Services Tax (GST). It is our major demand to get this tax waived,” the supply added.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had final week introduced that theatres may reopen within the southern state from January 5 with 50 per cent occupancy and adhering to strict COVID- 19 pointers.
Only 50 per cent of the seats ought to be occupied or solely half the tickets offered, he stated including that the well being division’s COVID protocol ought to be strictly adopted. Since the cinemas had remained shut for thus lengthy, they need to be disinfected earlier than reopening, he had stated.