Mamata Banerjee also said musical, dance and magic performances will be permitted in the state from next month.
Calcutta:
Movie theaters are set to reopen in West Bengal from October 1 after remaining closed for more than six months following the COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Saturday.
She also said music, dance and magic shows would be permitted in the state from next month.
“To return to normal, Jatras, plays, OATs, cinemas and all musical, dance, recital and magic performances will be allowed to operate with 50 participants or less from October 1, under reservation of compliance with physical distance standards, the wearing of masks and compliance with precautionary protocols, ”the Chief Minister said on Twitter.
To get back to normal, Jatras, plays, OATs, cinemas and all musical, dance, recital and magic shows will be allowed to operate with 50 participants or less from October 1, subject to compliance with physical distance standards, the wearing of masks and compliance with precautionary protocols.
– Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) September 26, 2020
The move comes amid repeated calls from players in the Bengali film industry, including Congressmen Trinamool Dev, Nusrat Jahan and Mimi Chakraborty, and industry bodies to reopen theaters, stressing that Movie theater owners and employees are under severe financial strain.
Nusrat Jahan with Bengali filmmaker Raj Chakraborty, producer Jeet praised Ms Banerjee’s decision.
Thank you Didi @MamataOfficial 🙏#CinemasToOpenInBengalhttps://t.co/XHTxhg6LRT
– Nusrat Jahan Ruhi (@nusratchirps) September 26, 2020
🙏🙏🙏 https://t.co/hbq6nUAphm
– Raj chakrabarty (@iamrajchoco) September 26, 2020
This is such good news. Many thanks to our honorable CM @MamataOfficial for that. https://t.co/MlRXOAYqnO
– Jeet (@ jeet30) September 26, 2020
“This is such good news. Thank you very much to our Honorable CM @MamataOfficial for this,” Jeet tweeted.
The Eastern India Motion Pictures Association (EIMPA) and the Multiplex Association of India (MAI) had, in June, separately urged the Center to allow the resumption of performances in theaters.
The West Bengal government had allowed filming, TV soap operas and web series to be filmed starting June 1 with no more than 35 people on set and adhering to all health and safety protocols.
Movie theaters have been closed since the nationwide coronavirus lockdown began in late March.
