Nitin Datar has been elected as the new President of the Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association, India (COEAI), following their annual general meeting on September 15. Nitin Datar, a prominent figure in the Indian cinema industry, shared his vision for revitalizing single-screen cinemas and enhancing the cinematic experience in the country. Expressing his aspirations, Nitin Datar stated, ‘I will want a policy by the government to help closed cinemas to reopen and new cinemas to come up.’ This highlights his commitment to garnering government support for the struggling single-screen cinema sector.
Single-screen cinemas have been instrumental in drawing audiences back to theaters, notably with the releases of ‘Gadar 2’ and ‘Jawan.’ Actors and producers alike have been clamoring for more cinema halls to cater to the growing demand. Datar pointed out, ‘In China, the figures of cinemas increased from 5000 to 35000 in a period of 5 years due to the government policy.’ His reference to China’s success underscores the potential impact of supportive government measures.
Furthermore, Datar shed light on the grim reality, stating, ’50 percent of our Indian towns have no cinemas, forget about the villages. COEAI had already submitted our suggestions.’ This revelation emphasizes the urgency of addressing the cinema deficit, not just in urban areas but also in rural regions.
In a final statement, Nitin Datar emphasized, ‘Building Film City isn’t going to help the producers, they need cinemas to increase their income.’ He underscored the importance of cinemas as a fundamental source of revenue for the Indian film industry.
Nitin Datar’s vision for revitalizing single-screen cinemas in India revolves around government-backed policies to reopen closed theaters and encourage new ones, drawing inspiration from China’s exponential cinema growth. His leadership in the COEAI promises to steer the industry toward a brighter future, ensuring that cinemas remain an integral part of the Indian film landscape.
