Maharashtra announced cinemas to reopen from 5 November

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra, the last big territory that had remained shut for Bollywood, has allowed cinemas to reopen from 5 November at 50% capacity. An order from the state government on Wednesday said cinema halls, theatres, multiplexes and drama theatres will be allowed to function outside containment zones.

No eatables will be allowed inside auditoriums. SOPs for the same will be issued by the cultural affairs department and local authorities, taking into consideration the guidelines issued by the ministry of information and broadcasting earlier, the order added.

Late September, the ministry of home affairs had announced that movie theatres could resume operations by 15 October.

States like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu had remained huge



special cases, forestalling, the arrival of motion pictures, particularly Hindi movies, the nation over. For some films, Mumbai and Delhi together make up for almost half of homegrown film industry incomes. 

"At last, the second we have sat tight for. Films in Maharashtra are allowed to initiate activities from tomorrow with half inhabitance and itemized SOPs will be given soon. A stage towards the revival of the film presentation area," free exhibitor and merchant Akshaye Rathi tweeted.

Apart from cinema halls, the government has also allowed the reopening of swimming pools used for the training of state, national and international level sportspersons, yoga institutes and indoor sports, outside containment zones, SOPs for all of which will follow.