A group of theatre owners from Hyderabad are preparing to host trial screenings of films after the Covid-19 lockdown is lifted. With cinematography minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav hinting that film, television shootings and post-production works might resume in June, it appears theatre owners are preparing for resumption of services.

A source, on condition of anonymity, informed Cinema Express that they are working on a plan to decide how to reopen theatres safely. "To reduce/avoid physical contact, the management of several theatres in the city, including Sudarshan 35mm (RTC X Roads), are considering ways to change their existing seating arrangements to minimise the spread of the Covid-19. They are planning to set up disinfection tunnels, while also observing the physical distance protocols set by the government,” explains the source. 

For the time being, theatre owners prefer re-releasing older films than opting for new releases. “We are considering the re-release of several blockbusters such as Syeraa Narasimha Reddy, Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, and Bheeshma, among others, to analyse footfalls across a few cinema theatres. We will record the theatrical footfalls on a daily basis for a week and send it along with other details to the producers, who in turn will submit that report to the government for formulating new guidelines," the source adds.