Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 24: The cinema theatres in the state had stopped operations seven months back because of coronavirus-induced lockdown enforced by the government. The theatres were allowed to operate from October 15 subject to certain conditions. Accordingly, films began to be screened in various towns and cities including this city. 

During a week which went by thereafter, the audience response has been disheartening. The theatres have been waiting to receive the audience but the movie-goers seem to be keeping a distance from the theatres.

Films like 'Love Mocktail', 'Shivaji Suratkal', 'Shivarjuna', 'Mayabazar 2016' and 'Kaanadanthe Maayavaadanu' had been released in single screens and multiplexes during the last week. A few more films were added in between. More films are in the line to be screened in the coming week. The films that will be exhibited this week will be 'Kurukshetra', 'KGF', 'Tagaru', 'Rajkumar', 'Kotigobba 3', 'Damayanthi", 'Diya' and some more. 

No audience: Even though many movies are getting released, there has not been any appreciable addition to the number of audiences as compared to last week. Most of the films are being released in multiplexes where only one or two shows have been arranged. There were cases in which a few shows were cancelled for want of audiences. 

Old films a problem: Some exhibitors feel that the audience response has been better but not to the extent expected by them. They point out that the films being screened now are the old ones which have already been seen by the people on OTT and television. They feel that the audience response would have been far better if new films of stars were released.

President of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, K V Chandrashekhar, admits that the audience response so far has been lukewarm but expects the collections to increase once new films are released. Producer of 'Shivarjuna', Shivarjuna, says that his film was exhibited in 40 theatres in the first week and 20 more theatres have been added this week. He feels that with the release of new films, more and more audience will get attracted towards the theatres.