Set for muted opening after 7-month closure, theatres eye Diwali fireworks

Conversations with distributors and film exhibitors reveal discounts on ticket prices are being planned to attract audience

October will be a sluggish month even as some theatres get ready to reopen this week after a seven-month closure. In a setback for the movie business, states known for cinema including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala are yet to permit movie halls to reopen. So, exhibitors estimate that only about a third to half of their properties would screen films on day one. 

For instance, Inox will open around half of its 147 properties on October 15, taking the number gradually up in the coming weeks. PVR and Carnival Cinemas will reopen on October 16, again with