Hindi & English movies exempted from strike

Visakhapatnam: Hindi and English movies were exempted from ongoing strike, hence, movies were screened here on Saturday. However, all the screens in the north Coastal districts have been observing bandh and not screening Telugu and other South Indian films. The denizens heaved a sigh of relief and enjoying the English and Hindi movies in the weekend. However, with the less number of cine goers, the vendors at theaters felling unhappy about their livelihood.

On Saturday, Hindi and English movies Pari, Death Wish, Sonu Ke Titu ki Sweety, Red Sparrow, Veerey ki Wedding, The Shape of Water and Black Panther (3D) screened in the city. There are 44 cinema halls, including multiplexes with 65 screens, in Visakhapatnam. Nearly, 700 to 800 families were depending on theatres directly and indirectly. The migrants from adjacent states to the city were eking out their livelihood by selling eatables during morning show, matinee, first and second shows at prime junctions in the city.

A 58-year-old MD Anwar of Tamil Nadu came to the city long ago and residing at Poorna Market area with his family members by supplying various eatables to the cinema halls, said that he and his nine members of family were earning Rs 8,000 per day by selling various eatables like potato chips and others. Not only his family members but also 20 others are depending on the business, he said and added that if the theatres will remain closed some more days, it would be difficult for them to survive.

Sapani Thakur, a popcorn vendor from Odisha, who is running a popcorn machine in a movie hall, lamented that whether business runs or not he has to pay the daily wages to the workers.