Cinemas to function at full capacity from 1 February; MHA issues new COVID-19 safety guidelines

Film exhibitors and cinema hall owners have welcomed the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to increase the capacity of theatres and described the move as a big shot in the arm" for the film industry that will help the entertainment sector get back on its feet.

The MHA on Wednesday allowed cinema halls and theatres to operate with more people in fresh COVID-19 reopening guidelines, to be effective from 1 February.

Kamal Gianchandani, CEO of PVR Pictures, said they are thankful to both the MHA and Ministry of Information & Broadcasting for relaxing the capacity cap in theatres.

"It is an extremely positive move and a big shot in the arm of the film entertainment sector. 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," Gianchandani of PVR Pictures, the largest theatre chain in India, told PTI.

According to the senior executive, the decision will also encourage Hindi film producers to release their films.

"It will encourage a lot Hindi producers who are ready with their films and for whom 50per cent capacity was becoming a deterrent and this relaxation of capacity cap," Gianchandani said.

Post lockdown, the Centre had allowed reopening of theatres and multiplexes in several regions, including Delhi, parts of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat on 15 October, 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.

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.

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.

Both Radhe - Your Most Wanted Bhai, starring Salman Khan, and John Abraham's Satyameva Jayate 2 are scheduled for an Eid release. Shahid Kapoor's Jersey will release on Diwali, while Ajay Devgn-starrer Maidaan will arrive in theatres on October 15 on Dussehra holiday.

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.

The current box office environment, thanks to the recent success of south films like Master and Krack, is also conducive to release Hindi films, he added.

"Cinemas thrive when tentpole films release. There are Tamil, Telugu films releasing but the impact of it is not as high in the Hindi belt. Hindi films generate a king share of business," Rathi told PTI.

Reliance Entertainment group CEO Shibasish Sarkar said the decision will help in increasing the business.

"We intend to bring one big film in the last week of March and first week of April. We have not yet decided what and when,? Sarkar, whose company has Sooryavanshi and 83 lined up for release, told PTI.

Bihar-based exhibitor Vishek Chauhan said it is the best news for the industry in a while.

He said though the theatres in the state had opened on October 15, it has only been a downhill journey as there hardly any films released then.

"The SOP (Standard operating procedure) that we are expecting will not give us a 100 per cent occupancy but maybe an 80-85 per cent. You can release any big film at 80 percent occupancy. But now the ball is in Bollywood's court," Chauhan told PTI.

Gianchandani said PVR Pictures, which has 835 screens across India, is prepared to welcome more audiences as they have all the necessary safety measures in place.

"We mastered it extremely well in south India in terms of safety protocol we made at the theatres," he said.

Days after permitting 100 per cent occupancy in movie theatres while adhering to COVID-19 guidelines, the Tamil Nadu government withdrew its decision earlier this month and said the capacity shall be restricted to 50 per cent

The government, however, allowed theatres to screen additional shows as per a directive of the Madras High Court and said the order would be in force with immediate effect.

"With Master, we have handled big crowds and there was no issue. Now with more people coming in theatres, there will absolutely be no problem," Gianchandani added.

However, Rajasthan-based senior distributor and exhibitor Raj Bansal rued that cinemas in the state continue to remain shut, even as almost every other region was up and running.

"In our state, the cases are very much under control. There are about 10,000 people affected due to cinema halls being shut," Bansal told PTI.

He said he hopes theatres in Rajasthan will open soon and big releases will breathe new life into the state's cinema halls starting Holi festival in March.

Kunal Sawhney, Senior Vice-President, Operations and Business Development, Carnival Cinemas said the move was highly awaited as every other industry has opened up.

"We wish that the government has seen the precautions that all cinemas have taken (so far). We are looking at a higher percentage of capacity to sell and open balance states which are not yet open," Sawhney told PTI.

Due to the shutdown, several films such as Gulabo Sitabo, Shakuntala Devi and Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl released on digital platforms.

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Netflix's Lupin to return for second instalment in summer, announces streamer

Netflix's new breakout show Lupin will return with its second part in summer 2021, the streamer has announced.

The French-language mystery thriller, starring The Intouchables actor Omar Sy, became a breakout hit when it premiered on January 8 on the platform.

Check out the announcement here

"All I can say is I had a ball." — @OmarSy

Lupin Part 2 is coming Summer 2021. https://t.co/4LOX1pbJNE

— Netflix Queue (@netflixqueue) January 28, 2021

Developed by George Kay and Francois Uzan, the show is based on Maurice Leblanc's famous character Arsene Lupin.

It centres on Assane Diop, whose childhood was turned upside down when his father died after being accused of a crime he didn't commit.

Twenty-five years later, Assane (Sy) uses "Arsene Lupin, Gentleman Burglar" as his inspiration to avenge his father.

The first five episodes that were released on 8 January were directed by Louis Leterrier and Marcela Said.

Part 2 of Lupin will consist of an additional five episodes. Episodes six and seven will be directed by Ludovic Bernard, while episodes eight, nine and ten will be directed by Hugo Gelin.

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Naomi Osaka credits Serena Williams, Billie Jean King for inspiring her to invest in US soccer team North Carolina Courage

Melbourne: Serena Williams and Billie Jean King, along with Naomi Osaka's boyfriend, influenced the three-time Grand Slam winner's decision to become part-owner of soccer team North Carolina Courage, she revealed on Sunday.

Osaka, the US Open champion, announced the investment on Thursday, with the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club planning to tap into her passion for fashion by consulting the 23-year-old on design decisions for 2021.

Osaka, who is in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Open, said she had noticed other sportspeople making similar commitments and "I always thought it was really cool".

"Billie Jean King texts me sometimes, so I was getting inspired from her," she said of the tennis great who has stakes in several sports teams, including baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers.

"I remember reading in an article that Serena's daughter invested in a soccer team, too. I thought that maybe that's a really good direction to go.

"As for choosing North Carolina, it's because I visited there a couple times because of my boyfriend's family, and he was born there."

Osaka, named by Forbes magazine as the world's highest paid female athlete in 2020, was the first Asian player to be ranked world number one.

She burst on the scene by winning the 2018 US Open and followed it up with victory at the 2019 Australian Open ahead of her third Slam title in Flushing Meadow last year.

Osaka is not the first celebrity owner in the NWSL, the third and most successful attempt to launch a top-level US women's football league.

Angel City FC in Los Angeles, a 2022 NWSL expansion club, has Williams and actresses Eva Longoria, Natalie Portman, Jennifer Garner and Jessica Chastain among its ownership group.

"The biggest thing I'm excited about, I really want to try to train with them," Osaka said of the Courage.

"I think it's always really fun to train with different athletes and see what they're better than me at.

"I feel like definitely I'll be able to go down there and watch a couple of games."

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India vs England: Have no clue how we'll dismiss Virat Kohli, admits Moeen Ali

Chennai: England all-rounder Moeen Ali doesn't know how they are going to tackle Virat Kohli in the upcoming Tests against India and feels the batting maestro will be extra motivated to fire after missing his team's incredible triumph in Australia.

Kohli, who had returned home after the opening Test debacle against Australia for the birth of his child, is back to captain the side in the four-match series against England, beginning on 5 February.

"How do we get him out? He's obviously an amazing player, world-class, he's very motivated to do well and I'm sure he'll be even more motivated after they did well in Australia and he had to leave for the birth of his child," Moeen told reporters during a video conference.

"I don't know how we're going to get him out because I don't think he has any sort of weakness but we have a good bowling attack, some pace in the line-up.

"He's a great guy and a good friend of mine — we don't talk too much about cricket. We do a little bit but not too much."

Back in the fold after recovering from COVID-19, Moeen said he has still got "match-winning performances" in him and is ready to take on India.

Besides the Tests, India and England will play three ODIs and five T20Is.

Moeen said playing Test cricket is his "biggest motivation" and he has "little targets", which he wants to achieve in the upcoming series.

"Whether or not I get picked is another matter... in terms of being ready to play, I think I'll be fine to play, I'll be ready. I've waited long enough," he said.

"I still feel I've got wickets and runs in me and match-winning performances within me. I have little targets I want to achieve first. I am not too far away from getting 200 wickets.

"I know people say they don't look at these things but it would be something I would look at. Then I would set another target after that."

The 33-year-old had tested positive for COVID-19 upon the England team's arrival in Sri Lanka and missed the two Tests there, which the visitors won for a series sweep.

"I'm all right now. Once I tested positive, I just wanted to get it over and done with really. It has been tough but I'm a big believer in 'after hardship comes ease'. Hopefully, there is ease after this," said Moeen, who had just five or six net sessions due to the time he had to spend in quarantine.

Moeen, who has 181 wickets and 2782 runs in Test cricket, had taken a break from the traditional format after missing out on a full contract in 2019.

"I enjoyed the break and played a few leagues around the world ... but ultimately it was Test cricket that I missed.

"When you're playing Test cricket, you're on top of your game in terms of your batting and bowling; your technique. I don't think it's great when you're just playing white-ball," he said.

Moeen said red-ball cricket makes for a better T20 cricketer.

"When you are playing red-ball cricket, you are hitting a lot more balls, you're bowling a lot more too. With T20I cricket, as much as it is hitting sixes, fours etc, the basis of your technique has to be good," he said.

"It doesn't surprise me that Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes are the two best T20 players around and they play Test cricket. Their defence is pretty solid and it gives you more confidence. When I was playing all forms, I felt I was better with my white-ball game."

He also asked people to not pay any heed to conspiracy theories and get vaccinated for the virus.

"There's a lot of conspiracy theories out there but it's just medicine evolving. In our community, people are sometimes a bit cautious. But for things to get back to normal, it's important that we do," he said.

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Veteran Bengali actor Indrajit Deb dies of cardiac arrest aged 73

Veteran Bengali actor Indrajit Deb died here on Saturday following a cardiac arrest, family members said. He was 73.

He had lost his wife a year back and the couple did not have children.

Deb was also suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and kidney ailment for a long time and died at his Gol Park residence in the southern part of the city, the family members said.

Deb had started his career in a popular TV serial- Tero Parbon, and played an important role in Karuanamoyee Rani Rasmoni and web series- The Adventures of Gogol.

Actress Sudipta Chakraborty expressed grief over the demise of Deb, describing him as a childhood mentor.

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Hrithik Roshan to reportedly star in Indian adaptation of The Night Manager

Hrithik Roshan will star in the Indian adaptation of John Le Carré’s spy drama The Night Manager, reports Variety.

According to reports, the adaptation will be directed by Sandeep Modi, who recently helmed the web series Aarya, which features Sushmita Sen. Filming is expected to start in Mumbai in April and will move to international locations once COVID-19 restrictions ease up.

Roshan will play the Indian version of the Jonathan Pine character, essayed by Tom Hiddleston in the original 2016 limited series. The original English series was adapted by David Farr and directed by Susanne Bier. Alongside Hiddleston, the cast included Olivia Colman, Hugh Laurie, Elizabeth Debicki and Tom Hollander. It won several Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Primetime Emmys.

The story follows the night manager of a luxury hotel, a former soldier, who is recruited by a government espionage organisation, to infiltrate the inner circle of an arms dealer.

Roshan was last seen in Siddharth Anand's action thriller War (2019) alongside Tiger Shroff. He is reuniting with Anand once more for Fighter, which also stars Deepika Padukone.

An official announcement from Roshan's representatives on The Night Manager front is awaited.

(With inputs from agencies)

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LaLiga chief Javier Tebas accuses FIFA president Gianni Infantino of supporting European Super League

Madrid: La Liga chief Javier Tebas has accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of supporting the launch of a breakaway European Super League despite world football's governing body being officially opposed to the project.

In an interview with AFP, Tebas called on Infantino to deny he is in favour of the controversial breakaway competition that would transform the landscape of European football.

Tebas claims Infantino has been "working on" and "encouraging" its formation and said FIFA's president could even be given a role with the new league once it is set up.

When contacted by AFP, FIFA referred to its statement on 21 January, which was signed by Infantino and said "such a competition would not be recognised by either FIFA or the respective confederation."

FIFA added any club or player participating would be banned from competitions organised by FIFA, such as the World Cup, although it is unclear if such a move would be legal.

Yet Tebas believes Infantino is in favour of a Super League and has even been helping clubs to organise it. "FIFA as an institution have been very clear but Infantino is not FIFA the institution, he is the president and he should clarify his position," Tebas said in an interview with AFP and The Sun newspaper in the UK.

"It is obvious that he has been involved in the meetings. He has been working on it and even been encouraging them to set it up."

"He is not against it," Tebas added. "He thought the project was good."

When asked why Infantino would support a European Super League, Tebas said: "Maybe he has a position in this future Super League that he is going to take up. Otherwise I wouldn't understand it."

Documents containing details of the Super League, first reported this month by British newspaper The Times, proposed a 20-club tournament with 15 permanent members.

They would include the Premier League's 'Big Six', as well as Real Madrid and Barcelona, with those clubs guaranteed billions of euros in revenue.

Tebas believes the documents show Infantino was involved in discussions. "In the documents that we have there is the mention of a code name 'W01' which clearly refers to Mr Infantino. That is his code name," said Tebas.

"So he should urgently clarify his position, his personal position, to explain exactly why he was at some of the meetings and encouraged the project at certain points in time."

'Not going to happen'

Infantino has championed a new, expanded 24-team FIFA Club World Cup which he has said would be the "the best club competition in the world" as well as the most lucrative.

Tebas continued: "In the documents there are also certain dates being held back for the Club World Cup, which is so precious to Infantino. They have kept January free for the Club World Cup and even said who is going to be part of it."

"It is obvious that people involved like (Real Madrid president) Florentino Perez could not have those details if Infantino were against it," added Tebas.

Real Madrid declined to comment.

In October, Infantino said he was "not interested" in a European Super League but stopped short of confirming if he was for or against.

"If he comes out and says it's not true and can prove it, I will apologise," said Tebas. "In football everyone knows everyone and we find out everything that's going on. When I say something it is for a good reason. I know the truth."

As the head of the Spanish league, Tebas has been one of the most vocal opponents of the Super League project, which he says has been driven by Perez at Madrid, as well as the American owners of Liverpool, Manchester United and AC Milan.

Barcelona's outgoing president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, said in October the club had also signed up.

The loss of income from the pandemic has accelerated talks, after Madrid and Barca each posted total debts of around one billion euros ($1.2 billion).

"Barcelona and Real's financial situations are not great but they're not so bad either," said Tebas. "The Super League is just an excuse they are looking for to set up this dream, the dream that Florentino Perez has had for years.

"But while I am in charge of the Spanish league it's not going to happen, that's my opinion," Tebas added. "The whole system will be against it and it won't just sit on its hands. It's going to fight."

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