'Lakhs of jobs at stake': MAI urges government to reopen cinemas

The Multiplex Association of India has urged the government to allow the reopening of movie theatres 'on an urgent basis'.

In its appeal, the cinema body highlighted that the movie exhibition industry that employs more than 2 lakh people directly lost an estimated ₹9,000 crore in the last six months.

Stating that the pandemic has had a 'dire economic impact' on the sector and livelihoods of people, the cinema body which represents all the multiplex chains, including, PVR, INOX and Cinepolis described movies as the 'soft power of India' and cinemas as the 'main form of entertainment for millions of Indians'.

The association in a full-page published appeal said that close to 10,000 cinema screens across the country had been shut for close to six months.