ID :
33200
Sun, 11/30/2008 - 22:14
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/33200
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Terror casts its shadow over Bollywood
Mumbai, Nov 30 (PTI) The guns may have fallen silent
after the 60-hour-long battle on Saturday, but the flick of
the real life action has left scars on the country's
entertainment industry that will take long to go.
Bollywood, which prides itself for producing the world's
highest number of movies in a year, will find it hard now to
draw people back to theatres in the aftermath of the attack
that killed nearly 200 lives.
According to media and entertainment industry experts,
the country's film screening business incurred a loss of not
less than Rs 50 crore during the period India's financial hub
Mumbai was under siege.
"After the first night of attack, all the theatres in the
city (Mumbai) were closed for two days. The incident has left
an impact on other places also, with viewership falling by
about 40 percent," Pyramid Saimira Group Chairman P S
Saminathan told PTI.
The size of the theatre business in the country is worth
about Rs 25 crore per day, he said, adding, "The industry
suffered a loss of about Rs 50 crore in the last three days in
the entire country."
Saminathan said it could take at least four-five months
to restore confidence of the audience, as there is hardly any
security mechanism in cinema halls.
As on September, Pyramid Saimira had 745 screens across
the country, with four of them located in Mumbai itself.
Expressing similar views, Shemaroo Entertainment Director
Hiren Gada said: "There is a fear in people's mind...restoring
confidence is the need of the hour. With adequate security and
time, common man will again come out in public spaces."
He said the film production business also got affected as
shootings were suspended during those three days.
"Producers had to pay for technicians and actors during
the three agonising days. In the coming days also, the
production expenses will increase as security on sets and for
important casts has to be tightened," Gada said.
According to a film producer, the attack on the Bollywood
city affected the television and movie business, which is
estimated to have suffered a loss of Rs 10 crore in the last
three days.
The city alone has 75 multiplexes and about 30 single
screen theatres.
Another leading entertainment house PVR CineMedia Chief
Executive Officer Gautam Dutta said the company's all the
three multiplexes, having 20 screens, were closed for two
days, while business in other cities also suffered.
He, however, declined to give any estimate, saying it was
too early to make any assessment.
"Security has to be beefed up... but life has to go on
and people are generally positive. They will eventually come
out together," Dutta hoped.
"While there will be nervousness amongst Mumbaikars, we
will put in our best to bring life back to normalcy at the
earliest," INX Media Chairperson Indrani Mukherjea said.PTI TR
PMR
after the 60-hour-long battle on Saturday, but the flick of
the real life action has left scars on the country's
entertainment industry that will take long to go.
Bollywood, which prides itself for producing the world's
highest number of movies in a year, will find it hard now to
draw people back to theatres in the aftermath of the attack
that killed nearly 200 lives.
According to media and entertainment industry experts,
the country's film screening business incurred a loss of not
less than Rs 50 crore during the period India's financial hub
Mumbai was under siege.
"After the first night of attack, all the theatres in the
city (Mumbai) were closed for two days. The incident has left
an impact on other places also, with viewership falling by
about 40 percent," Pyramid Saimira Group Chairman P S
Saminathan told PTI.
The size of the theatre business in the country is worth
about Rs 25 crore per day, he said, adding, "The industry
suffered a loss of about Rs 50 crore in the last three days in
the entire country."
Saminathan said it could take at least four-five months
to restore confidence of the audience, as there is hardly any
security mechanism in cinema halls.
As on September, Pyramid Saimira had 745 screens across
the country, with four of them located in Mumbai itself.
Expressing similar views, Shemaroo Entertainment Director
Hiren Gada said: "There is a fear in people's mind...restoring
confidence is the need of the hour. With adequate security and
time, common man will again come out in public spaces."
He said the film production business also got affected as
shootings were suspended during those three days.
"Producers had to pay for technicians and actors during
the three agonising days. In the coming days also, the
production expenses will increase as security on sets and for
important casts has to be tightened," Gada said.
According to a film producer, the attack on the Bollywood
city affected the television and movie business, which is
estimated to have suffered a loss of Rs 10 crore in the last
three days.
The city alone has 75 multiplexes and about 30 single
screen theatres.
Another leading entertainment house PVR CineMedia Chief
Executive Officer Gautam Dutta said the company's all the
three multiplexes, having 20 screens, were closed for two
days, while business in other cities also suffered.
He, however, declined to give any estimate, saying it was
too early to make any assessment.
"Security has to be beefed up... but life has to go on
and people are generally positive. They will eventually come
out together," Dutta hoped.
"While there will be nervousness amongst Mumbaikars, we
will put in our best to bring life back to normalcy at the
earliest," INX Media Chairperson Indrani Mukherjea said.PTI TR
PMR
