As cinema halls reopened from October 15th, with full precautions and safety guidelines, Twitter was flooded with Twitteratis speculating the decision of reopening of theatres and discussing the screening of the movies. 
The theatres were closed for almost seven months due to the global Coronavirus outbreak induced lockdown. The Government issued Standard Operating Procedures which has to strictly be followed by all cinema halls and multiplexes.
While many netizens expressed their excitement and appreciated the decision of the government, it also made many movie-lovers happy to be able to go and watch a movie on the big screen.
The theatres in Vadodara resume its operations in accordance with the State notifications. A few of the key points are:
- Auditorium occupancy will not be more than 50%
- Adjacent seats on either side will be left vacant
- Availability of PPE kits for purchase
- E-tickets and contactless QR based entry
- Guests will be encouraged to maintain a 6-feet distance from other families and groups at all times
- Seat disinfection & sanitization after every show
- E-bills and disposable packaging for F&B
- Guests will be encouraged to use the Aarogya Setu app
Watching movies on a big screen with a surround sound system either alone or with friends and family is an enriching experience in itself. After Unlock 5, taking a break from TV or laptop or mobile phones for movie-lovers and then going back to theatres with a considerable amount of safety and precautions will be a great relief for them.
Currently, no new movies are being shown. In fact, Hindi movies like Shubh Mangal Zyada Savdhan, Thappad, Gujarati movies like Hellaro (a National Award Winner), Chaal Jeevi Laiye are back in the theatres.
According to sources, the current occupancy in the theatre hall is 6-8 people. Families also have to sit in alternate seats to maintain social distancing. Nobody is being allowed to enter without the masks. Masks and PPE kits are also available for sale at the Box Office. As of now, there are no morning shows available. The time slots for shows are available from the afternoon.
While the world waits for a vaccine, remember we have not defeated the virus yet. Maintain hygiene and practice the COVID-19 guidelines and stay safe.
