Theaters Re-Opening Face Different Issues in AP and TS

Andhra Pradesh State Government has decided to implement the Unlock 5 directives of the Central Government as it is. It has issued a G.O. allowing the re-opening of theaters from the 15th of this month with 50% occupancy. Telangana Government is yet to issue the official order in this regard.

It is already known to our readers that Telangana Theaters Association announced the re-opening of the theaters but AP exhibitors are yet to make such announcements. Suresh Babu who holds the majority of theaters in AP is reluctant to re-open the theaters. His decision will influence the rest of the theater owners in the state in making a decision.

There are chances of movie releases only if theaters are opened in both the Telugu states. Telangana theater owners are waiting for the Government’s nod while in AP, the theater owners are still undecided. Once everything is cleared, the industry needs to sit with the exhibitors to plan how things will go forward in the next few months so that normalcy can be restored by Christmas or Sankranthi.

The Exhibition sector is expecting some help from the State Government with relaxations like waiving off minimum electricity charges during the Lockdown, Bringing back Parking Charges (for Telangana), Waiving off Property Tax and Road Tax for the current year, etc.