What next for Mollywood after Kerala govt allows theatres to reopen?

After almost 10 months of shutting shop, theatre owners in the State were greeted with good news on the first day of 2021 with the Kerala government allowing cinema halls to reopen from January 5, at 50% capacity and following all Covid-19 protocols. With over 80 movies ready for release, according to industry insiders, there is no shortage of content.But what are the challenges ahead for Mollywood? We find out.

‘We have to monitor the audience turnout now’
Vijay Babu, producer and distributor
What we have to gauge now is the reaction of the public. It’s been almost a year since the audience went to theatres and that excitement could bring them to theatres in the beginning. But can we sustain that momentum every week as new movies release? We have to monitor that. Also, people’s habits have changed over this fairly long gap. One of my films #Home is ready, but I am willing to wait because there are other movies that were shot and ready for release before that.

‘I will play a film in my theatre for at least two weeks’
Visakh Subramaniam, cine exhibitor and producer of Sajan Bakery
As a producer, two of my films Hridayam and Sajan Bakery went on floors last year and I had announced Prakashan Parakkatte and 9MM after the lockdown. So, there was naturally an interest by OTT platforms. However, OTTs are looking for big banners or movies with big stars and so some producers can only depend on theatres. I was offered a good deal for OTT release for the much-anticipated film Hridayam, asking me not to worry about the film’s release date. However, tomorrow when I make a small movie I wouldn’t be offered such a deal. As a theatre owner, I could see that this was moving towards a monopoly if theatres didn’t exist.
So, I told Aju Varghese that when theatres reopen, I will immediately release Sajan Bakery in theatres, even if people don’t come to cinema halls. Everyone who worked in the film, including the technical crew, were happy with that decision. Films like Kurup and Kunjeldho are also aiming at theatre releases soon.
I am also blessed that actors and directors – especially Vineeth Sreenivasan, Pranav Mohanlal and Aju - didn’t take remuneration and offered full support regarding my decision to release both Hridayam and Sajan Bakery in theatres. They promised good content, and I feel it’s only like-minded people who have passion for the industry who can bring Malayalam cinema back to how it was in the pre-pandemic era.
As a theatre owner, cinema halls have been shut for the past nine months and there has been zero revenue. Before reopening, we have to do a bit of maintenance that again contributes to more expense. From now, instead of four shows, we might have three shows to make time to clean and disinfect. But I have decided to play a movie in my theatre for at least two weeks even if there is no footfall. That’s my commitment as a theatre owner. As a producer, I can always support theatre owners in this scenario by giving them quality content.
I am sure youngsters would come to theatres. Families too are now going to restaurants and travelling. In an airport, you are checked for temperature at the lobby and then you board an aircraft where you sit for two hours in a closed environment. It’s the same when you come to a theatre. So, if there’s a good product, I am sure youngsters would first watch it in theatres and based on their feedback family audience would follow suit.

‘We are ready to take the risk of releasing Vellam when theatres reopen’
G Prajesh Sen, director of Vellam
We want it to be the first film to hit theatres when they reopen. Malls and other avenues have already opened and the outcome has been positive, so I believe that could be the case for theatres too. It’s obviously a huge risk to release a movie when you are uncertain about what to expect. In Chennai, when theatres reopened for the first time, they had to close them again because of the lack of response. However, the producers of Vellam and our team are ready to take that risk.

‘Government is yet to address demands of exhibitors’
Anil V Thomas, vice president, Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce
The decision to reopen theatres comes after several demands from our side to do so. Also, the government has not addressed our demand for exempting entertainment tax. Also, despite being shut for 10 months, theatre owners have been asked to pay fixed charges for cinema halls that amounts to lakhs of rupees. The Kerala Film Chamber will hold a meeting on January 6 to decide what action to take because there are close to 100 movies that are ready to release.

‘There would be a constant fear if the surroundings are safe’
Meriam Thomas, homemaker and movie-goer
I have a baby who is a few months old and I won’t go to theatres at this point. I will constantly have that fear in my mind whether my surroundings are sterilised enough for us to remain safe. Even when theatres might ensure a safe watching experience with social distancing, I don’t think that would leave me relaxed enough to enjoy the film in theatres yet. That would hamper the movie watching experience.

‘Youngsters will definitely go to theatres’
Kailas Madhavan, ad filmmaker and movie-goer
I will definitely go for the first day, first show, with my friends. Everything else that has the possibility of people coming together has opened up, why not theatres? Moreover, theatres have opened in other parts of the country too. It is true that the Covid-19 situation still persists and even the new strain is here, but life has to go on. People working in the film field also need to survive and it’s important to support them. I think youngsters like me will definitely go watch movies once cinemas open.
(with inputs from [email protected])