By Renuka Dhakal
Kathmandu, Dec. 26: The cinema theatres which had remained closed for over nine months reopened from Friday across the country.
The hall owners have opened the cinema halls with occupancy of 50 per cent spectators.
Even though the government did not give permission, the Nepal Motion Picture Association, an umbrella organisation of cinemas, decided to reopen them.
With the decision, the halls which were closed for a long time have been cleaned. Similarly, special security arrangements have been made in all the halls, adopting the safety standards of COVID-19. On Friday, Big Movies located at City Centre in Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu released Nepali film “Aama” and English movies “Blood Shot” and “The Invisible Man (A)” in three different shows.
According to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Big Movies Dipesh Sharma, eight to 10 persons enjoyed each show on Friday. He said that they received an enthusiastic response from the audience and they were very optimistic and positive that the number of spectators in the halls would increase soon.
Likewise, One Cinemas of New Baneshwor at Eye Plex Mall showcased movies like “Intu Mintu Londonma”, “Aama” and the English movie “Blood Shot” in three different shows today. Manager of the One Cinemas Umesh Raj Giri said that in the first show they had only two viewers but their number rose in the second and third shows.
He said that if the new films were released, the number of viewers would increase. Despite the release of the old films, response from the audience has been encouraging, he added.
The hall resumed its operation with 100 per cent staffers with less than 50 per cent occupancy of the audience, said Giri.
Roshan Adiga, Chief Executive Officer of QFX Cinemas, informed that among its 12 cinema theatres across the country, only three halls came into operation on Friday. Only Chhaya Centre, Civil Mall and Lubim Mall of QFX Cinemas were reopened, screening “Aama”, “Senti Virus”, “Blood Shot” and “Invisible Man (A)”.
He further informed that in average 10 to 12 viewers watched the movies in the QFX halls on Friday in each show.
Various halls have also arranged QR food ordering through online to reduce crowd at the food court along with other safety measures to prevent coronavirus spread. As soon as the halls came into operation, the District Administration Office, Kathmandu, invited the film entrepreneurs for a discussion today.
According to Madhusudhan Pradhan, president of the Nepal Motion Picture Association, they had a very important meeting at the district administration office.
“The government is positive to allow resumption of cinemas,” he added.