Maharashtra cinemas continue to be closed as we approach the end of September. A month ago the industry was expecting Maharashtra cinemas to open last Monday (13th Sep) but as the month of September came and there was no announcement it meant that the state government had changed their mind again and mid September opening was not happening.

This is becoming very frustrating as its leaving the industry in a vacuum and unable to make any decisions but cinemas are expected soon and there may well be an announcement very soon. Despite the mid September disappointment it could be that cinemas in Maharashtra open sometime next week or the first week of October.

The restaurants, malls and public transport are open in Maharashtra but there seems to be a different placing of cinemas within the state government in their covid strategy. It has been different in the rest of the world but if that decision comes for late Sep / early Oct start you take it. It will be with 50% occupancy and possibly no night shows but this would give a chance of a big release on Diwali though a real biggie may well be unlikely if there are no night shows allowed. 

Its been six months that cinemas in Maharashtra have been shut and right now some sort of start is needed and hopefully the good news will come in the next 5-10 days. The box office in US has been open for a few months now and at the moment its around 50% of what it was before the pandemic and here it will also take time though some areas will come back faster than others.