Clearing the way for the re-release of big-budget Hindi films in the country, the Maharashtra Chief Minister on Saturday announced the opening of all cinema halls in the state from October 22. The release of about a dozen mega-budget films was stuck due to the closure of theaters in the state, which were closed since the second wave of Corona.

The role of the state of Maharashtra has been the most important in the business of Hindi films in the country. The Mumbai distribution area of ​​these films generates about 40 to 50 percent of the total business from the sale of cinema tickets. Top officials associated with the management of theater chains met Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday. During this, Thackeray had also called all the senior administrative officers of the state in this meeting to understand the situation of the film industry.

According to the people present in the meeting, during this time Uddhav Thackeray understood his problems in detail from the representatives of the film world. These people told the Chief Minister that it may be difficult for lakhs of people working in the Hindi film industry to continue their employment without opening cinema halls in Maharashtra. From production to distribution and screening of films, the livelihood of millions of families is linked to the release of these films. The film representatives had earlier shared their problems in detail with Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut.

After listening to the problems of film representatives and discussing with the top administrative officials of the state, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray allowed all cinema halls in the state to open from October 22. He was also instructed to make full preparations in this regard and follow the Standard Circulation Procedure (SOP). Instructions related to the standard circulation procedure for opening cinema halls will be issued soon by the administrative officers of the state. The Maharashtra government had issued instructions on the previous day to open schools in the state from October 4 and religious places from October 7.

Among those who met Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on behalf of the film industry are Jayanthi Lal Gada and Rohit Shetty, besides Sanjay Marudhar of Pen Marudhar, Kamal Gyanchandani, CEO of Multiplex Association of India and PVR Pictures, Alok Tandon, CEO of Inox Leisure Limited, CEO of Cinépolis India. Devang Sampath and PVR Cinemas Senior Vice President Thomas D’Souza were also present.

After the weakening of the second wave of Corona, the process of release of Hindi films has started across the country. But the film industry believes that due to the closure of cinema halls in Maharashtra, the business of his films is not being done as expected by the film industry. The films ‘Belbottom’, ‘Chehre’ and ‘Thalaivi’ released during this period could not be released in Maharashtra due to this. The October release of the mega-budget film ‘RRR’ was postponed due to the closure of theaters in Maharashtra. Apart from this, many big-budget films like ‘Sooryavanshi’, ’83’, ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’, ‘Prithviraj’, ‘Shamshera’, ‘Bunty Aur Babli 2’ and ‘Jayeshbhai Jordaar’ are in the line of release even after completion.