A day after an employee of one of Hyderabad's leading multiplexes died by suicide, the Multiplex Association of India (MAOI) wrote to the home and the I&B ministries — its fifth appeal in the six months of theatre shutdown — requesting for the reopening of cinemas.

The letter emphasises how the exhibition and distribution sectors across India have borne losses of Rs 1,500 crore every month since the shutters were downed on March 14, taking the six-month tally to Rs 9,000 crore. This includes the losses incurred by the dependent partners in the business.