MUMBAI: In the most recent development to take place, Businessofcinema.com has learnt that single screen theatres of Bombay circuit are planning to come together with the multiplex association for a no-show from 4 April onwards.
The concerned parties are already evaluating the process and are likely to take a stand by early next week. If this comes through, then the associations of single screens of Bombay circuit and multiplexes will unite in order create a common ground for both parties and make agreements jointly.
A source close to the development says, “Both single screens and multiplexes are in the same business of exhibiting movies on the big screen. If distributors played their movies in single screens only, it would have been beneficial to the single screens, but the fact of the matter is that anyway there is no big movie slated for release in the near future and single screens too are bleeding with heavy losses.”
In the mean time, single screens outside of Bombay circuit are hopeful that they can fall back on regional content or re-release blockbusters such as Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Ghajini to feed their theatres.
Delhi based Golcha Cinema deputy general manager N R Saini says, “Distributors and producers should have continued releasing movies in single screens, by calling a strike they have only highlighted the importance of multiplexes.”
The source further adds, “Since single screens operate at a state level, the single screens of other states and cities haven’t been involved in the matter yet.”
Managing director of G7 cinemas in Bombay Manoj Desai says, “From the start of this year I have already suffered a loss of Rs 50 lakhs. Out of all the six movies that released on 20 March, none of them are of any use to my cinema anyway.”
Pune based Abrar Moosa who manages various theatres in the city says, “I am hopeful that a solution should be arrived at within 10 days.”
But the fact remains that, when the solution is arrived at, there will still be no releases for five to six weeks after that, as that is the time period required to market a movie. “We will have to wait till the 11th hour for a decision to arrive. Till the Hindi movies start playing in theatres again, we will have to play regional movies,” says Chitra cinema owner and manager of various cinemas across Bombay territory Dara Mehta.
When queried about the unison of single screens with multiplexes Mehta said he was unaware.
