Cinema halls in the city see a 50 per cent drop in filmgoers, as the H1N1 virus keeps Puneites gripped in fear

Following the swine flu scare, 18 single-screen and 10 multiplex theatres in the city wear a deserted look these days. Regular filmgoers in Pune, now avoid public places in a bid to guard themselves from exposure to the infectious H1N1 virus.

Scared
"We were running houseful shows on weekends before swine flu hit the city. But now, our business has witnessed a drop of more than 50 per cent," said, Hrishikesh Chaphalkar, partner with City Pride Multiplex in Kothrud.

Sadanand Mohol, president of Pune Film Exhibitor Association (PFEA), said, "The fear of swine flu has set in so deep in the minds of people that they now avoid coming to cinema halls." Mohol, who is also the owner of Vaibhav Theatre in Hadapsar, said that even big- banner films have failed to draw in crowds.



The mask
"The people who do come to watch films, wear medical masks for safety. Hence, as a precautionary measure, we have fumigated the entire cinema complex to ensure a healthy environment," said Mohol.

Fly Me to the Moon, a 3D Hollywood film, has made poor collections due to the swine flu scare. Also, the three Marathi films that were released on Friday, are also running sans audience.