'First Day First Show' gets OTT release. When and where to watch

Post lockdown, the Centre had allowed reopening of theatres and multiplexes in several regions, including Delhi, parts of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat on October 15, 2020 with 50 per cent occupancy, functioning with stringent dos and don'ts, keeping in view the new normal. Theatres in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh opened in November, whereas cinema halls in Tamil Nadu and Kerala resumed operation in early January.

According to the senior executive, the decision will also encourage Hindi film producers to release their films. So far only a handful of Hindi films, including “Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi”, "Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari", "Shakeela", "Madam Chief Minister", and "Indoo Ki Jawani" have released in theatres while big-ticket Hindi movies with A-listers like "83", "Sooryavanshi", “Jayeshbhai Jordaar”, “Shamshera”, “Brahmastra”,” Prithviraj” and “Laal Singh Chaddha" are still awaiting a release date.

Due to the shutdown, several films such as “Gulabo Sitabo”, “Shakuntala Devi” and “Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl” released on digital platforms. But now more films are expected to get released on the big screen.

The film industry has welcomed govt's decision allowing cinema halls to increase seating capacity. "This has come in a timely fashion. A lot of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam films are being lined up for release in February. This move will help a lot of these films,” Kamal Gianchandani, CEO of PVR Pictures, said.

Leading distributor Akshaye Rathi, who owns eight theatres in Maharashtra, is hopeful that the increased capacity would translate into release of the much awaited tentpole movies. Bihar-based exhibitor Vishek Chauhan said it is the best news for the industry in a while.