NMPA decides to reopen cinema halls from December 25

KATHMANDU, Dec 14: Nepal Motion Picture Association (NMPA) has made a unilateral decision to reopen the cinema halls across the country from December 25.

The association organized a press meet on Monday in Kathmandu to disseminate the information. Talking to Republica, chairperson of NMPA, Madhu Sudhan Pradhan said, "We have visited almost all government authorities with the plea to resume the cinema halls and we will follow the health protocols set by the WHO, while in operation.

Almost all sectors have resumed their businesses as usual but there is still no concern about reopening the movie theaters. The decision to reopen the cinema halls was taken as there seems no concern about the film industry though the people associated with this industry have been hit hard financially."

According to the press statement issued by NMPA, the association is also organizing a protest, putting forward a nine-point demand.

There are almost 200 cinema halls across the country. Of them, 120 halls are single screen theatres, while the remaining 80 are multiplexes. Cinema hall operators say it costs more than a million rupees to operate a single screen, while the cost exceeds millions to operate multiplexes.