India's Largest Amateur Corporate Bowling Tournament India's Largest Amateur Corporate Bowling Tournament in Gurgaon, PVR bluO and Rapid Metro, commence the seventh edition of the most awaited 'Pin Strike Battle' in the city Gurgaon. PVR bluO, India's largest bowling destination, in association with Rapid Metro, set in motion the 'Pin Strike Battle', the seventh edition of Corporate Bowling Tournament, in Gurgaon today. The tournament, an annual event of PVR bluO, is an effort to provide a platform to attract corporate synergies to bowling as the perfect team engagement. Starting from September 10 till October 8, 2015, PVR bluO will serve as a host to over 1000 players from leading corporates across nation. Rajiv Banga, MD & CEO, IL&FS Rail Ltd and Vishal Sawhney, CEO, PVR BluO flagged off the tournament with a formal ribbon cutting ceremony. Further the ceremony was followed by a scintillating dance performance by the dance troupe of Delhi Dance Academy. DJ Ishy's enthralling music kept the players on their toes throughout the evening. At the launch Rajiv Banga, MD & CEO, IL&FS Rail Ltd, while encouraging the players said, "It is a great pleasure to inaugurate the most happening "Pin Strike Battle". We are having a great time here. Rapid Metro, Gurgaon's Smartest Commute finds a perfect fitment to engage with, through the tournament, which is being conducted at PVR bluO. This tournament has brought our endeavour to connect with people one step ahead by also connecting corporate through sports. We are delighted to promote new-age sports
like bowling and it's fascinating to see such immense passion and enthusiasm among all." On this occasion, Vishal Sawhney, CEO, PVR BluO, also added, "We take immense pride to kick-start the seventh edition of Corporate Bowling Tournament at Gurgaon. It's great to see that this year; the tournament has seen an immense increase in the participation. This year we have over 300 corporate teams playing, vying for the championship. The tournament proves the best possible forum for Corporates and their employees to engage not only as a perfect stress buster but also as a means for team building and strengthening. As we declare this year's tournament open, we feel strong about playing a role in increasing the growth & popularity of the sport of bowling in the country." Spread over five weeks, the tournament will be held every Thursday evening at PVR bluO, Ambience Mall, Gurgaon. The top teams will compete for the finale on 8th October, 2015 and will win the grand prize of a trip to Europe, a stay at Radisson Blu Hotel along with a luxury gift hamper from XOXO. Besides these the runner up and other participants will have exciting goodies and gifts from multiple associate brands like Firefox, Casio, Radisson, Club Mahindra , XOXO and many more to look forward to.
Christie Chooses Galalite Cinema Screens
of projection. Thus the superior quality Galalite screens were the preferred medium to showcase the products. Christie's multi-zone display at Infocomm India 2015 featured the best of Galalite's projection screen surfaces, along with its technologically advanced projectors. These two leaders showcased comprehensive and holistic visual display solutions. The enticing and vivid visual output helped Christie as well as Galalite to demand attention from visitors, system integrators, businesses and IT managers at the event.
PVR Board Okays Merger with Bijli Holdings Multiplex operator PVR Ltd said it has approved an amalgamation scheme between Bijli Holdings Pvt Ltd and itself to simplify PVR's shareholding structure. "The board of directors has considered and approved the scheme of amalgamation between Bijli Holdings, based on the recommendation of the audit committee," the company said in a BSE filing. The purpose of the amalgamation is to simplify the shareholding structure of PVR and reduce the shareholding tiers. It also envisages to demonstrate Bijli Holdings' direct engagement with PVR, the filing said. "Bijli Holdings is part of the promoter group of PVR. Post-amalgamation, paid-up capital of the company will remain the same and there shall be no dilution for any shareholders, including public shareholders," PVR said.
Christie, the global leader in audio and visual technologies selected Galalite the leader in cinema screen technologies, to showcase two of its latest offerings, at InfoComm 2015, held at the Bombay Exhibition Centre.
After the amalgamation, individual promoters will directly hold shares in PVR and there will be no change in the total promoters' shareholding of PVR. The total promoters' shareholding is 26.33 per cent of PVR's paid-up equity share capital.
The new Christie Boxer 4K30 and Captiva Series projectors represent a breakthrough in industry standards
Shares of PVR Ltd were trading at 816 apiece, down 2.32 per cent from their previous close on the BSE. September-October 2015
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Mukta A2 Cinemas to Open Property in Bahrain Mukta A2 Cinemas goes international soon! The cinema chain will be making its presence felt in the Middle East, starting with Bahrain. Mukta Cinemas will open a six-screen property in the heart of the capital, Manama at Juffair Mall in Bahrain next year. Rahul Puri, managing director, Mukta A2 Cinemas said: "In the cinema exhibition business, Bahrain does not require you to have a local partner. The prospects for margins are also better since taxation is more rationalised than in India. We see an opportunity there and are exploring that market."
Uphaar Tragedy: Family of Victims Meet Kejriwal
Families of those who died in Uphaar fire tragedy met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. This came a day after the Supreme Court let off Ansal brothers, Sushil and Gopal, in connection with their role in the case, but asked them to pay a fine of 60 crore within three months. On June 13, 1997, 59 people were killed when the Uphaar Cinema exploded in flames during a movie, leading to a stampede. The cinema was engulfed in flames when an overheated generator exploded in the building's basement. Most of the victims were trapped in the balcony and suffocated to death.
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September-October 2015
SRS to Invest up to 900 cr in 2 yrs for Expansion SRS Ltd will invest up to 900 crore in the next two years to expand retail network of its various consumercentric businesses such as hospitality, cinema, jewellery and real estate. "We will invest between 700-900 crore in the next two years to expand retail network of our various businesses. We are also foraying into the pharmacy business with the launch of our first store 'SRS Pharmacy' next week," SRS Ltd Group President and Chief Strategy Officer Tinku Singh said. The firm plans to open 30 SRS Pharmacy stores this fiscal. Singh added that the company has drawn an aggressive expansion plan to increase its footprints across business verticals. "We will fund up to Rs 900 crore investment through a mix of internal accruals and debt," he added. SRS Ltd, which reported a turnover of 3,824.84 crore in the previous fiscal, has presence across various sectors such as retail, hospitality, real estate, cinemas and jewellery.
PVR Gains on Talk of Acquiring Majority Stake in Zea Maize Shares of PVR were up nearly 3% at 858 on the Bombay Stock Exchange amid reports that it has bought majority stake in Zea Maize Pvt Ltd. Zea Maize Pvt Ltd is the owner of Delhi-based startup 4700BC Popcorn. The stock opened at 843 and touched a high of 861. At 11.05am, over 175,000 shares were traded on both the stock exchanges.
DLF to Open 300-cr Emporio Mall in Delhi Realty major DLF will be opening its sixth mall in Delhi-NCR by May next year with an investment of 300 crore. "We are already in the process of completing another mall in Delhi called the Emporio at Chanakyapuri in Central Delhi. It's a smaller mall and it should be open by next May," DLF chief executive for rental business, Sriram Khattar said. Besides, the Gurgaon-based developer will be opening the 1,700-crore 'Mall of India' in Noida by November this year. The company claims that the 2 million sq ft mall will be the biggest in the country. "We launched the project in 2012 and now are set to open it. By October-end, we are set to open the cinemas and between November 20 and 27 will be the grand opening," DLF senior vicepresident & head of leasing and mall management, Pushpa Bector said. The 'Mall of India' has a leasable area of about 2 million sq ft and DLF has leased over 90 per cent of this already, she claimed. It will have over 450 retail units, a seven-screen cinema, and a food court with about 1,000 seats. "At the Mall of India, we have got 40 per cent of space dedicated to food and entertainment," Bector said, adding that the new property will have 22 casual dining restaurants. The country's largest developer is expecting 200 crore rental income per year from this mall and expects it to break-even in five to six years. Even though many mall developers are struggling with dwindling footfalls
and revenues, Khattar said revenue growth for DLF has been 10-12 per cent. DLF said if it has to expand, it will only look at tier I cities for now. Bector said Tier I cities, especially Delhi-NCR, suits it as customers have better purchasing power. "We like to concentrate in Tier I, especially NCR, because the spending power is high. The kind of investments we are putting in, it gets justified with the kind of returns we can look forward to, because there is consumption," she said, adding that they would look to consolidate and strengthen their position in the NCR region and then look at other regions. Asked if the e-commerce boom has had any impact on leasing, Khattar said malls may look at reducing the offering for groceries, furniture, books and electronics going forward as sale of these items is high online. "Certain commoditised apparel or fashion may go online but aspirational and luxury fashion going online is very limited," he said, adding that e-commerce will constitute about 7-12 per cent of the retail market.
YRF Makes Waves at IFFR Dum Laga Ke Haisha and Piku, produced and distributed by Yash Raj Films, won rave reviews and honours at the recently-held Indian Film Festival in Russia (IFFR). Piku bagged two awards - Best Film (Ronnie Lahiri) and Best Director (Shoojit Sircar), whereas Dum Laga Ke Haisha won the Best Actor award (Ayushmann Khurrana). Khurrana was present at the festival with Lahiri, Sheel Kumar, President of IFFR, and Festival Director Sarfaraz Alam, and Indian Embassy, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Director Ashish Sharma.
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Inox to Invest 320 cr in 3 years, Eyes Regional Acquisitions Multiplex operator Inox plans to invest up to 320 crore to open 128 screens in the next 2-3 years while it continues to scout for acquisitions, especially for regional players, to expand footprint across India. "We have a visible property pipeline based on identified locations and signed lease agreements of adding 128 screens that could lead to about 557 screens in 2-3 years," Inox Group of Companies Director and Group Head - Corporate Finance, Deepak Asher said. Asher added that the company would spend between 2-2.5 crore each to open new screens, with the cost depending on the location where the screen will come up. To open 128 screens, the company will invest between Rs 250-320 crore. When asked if the company is done with acquisitions to expand its footprint, he said, "There are 15 to 20 regional chains and all of these have anywhere between 20 to 60 screens each, so there would be potential consolidation opportunities. We are willing to look at acquisition possibilities." At present, the national chains include PVR, Inox, Carnival and Cinepolis. The Indian multiplex space has been in consolidation mode as lack of space for opening new cinema halls,
low footfalls in a large number of malls and high rentals have made the organic growth difficult. In June, PVR Ltd acquired real estate major DLF's DT Cinemas for 500 crore. Inox and a private equity player were also said to be in the race for DT Cinemas. In January, Mexican multiplex chain operator Cinepolis fully acquired Essel Group's Fun Cinemas. In December 2014, Carnival Group acquired Big Cinemas from Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group for an estimated 700 crore, making it the biggest deal in this sector. In July 2014, Inox Leisure had acquired Gurgaon-based rival Satyam Cineplexes in a 182-crore deal to strengthen its presence in north India. It also bought multiplex cinema theatre firm Fame India and Calcutta Cinema Private Ltd (CCPL) in West Bengal. At present, Inox operates 389 screens in 100 properties across 54 cities in the country. In order to provide better services, Inox has started paperless tickets service on a pilot basis for sale of tickets through the website or app and ticketing aggregators. "We intend to launch it in all major cities in the next couple of weeks," the company said.
Pyaasa Restored for the Venice Film Fest challenging part was to source the authentic materials to complete the preservation. "Thousands of instances of dirt, lines, scratches, splices, warps, jitters and green patches were manually removed, frame by frame under the supervision of experienced artistes," he said.
Inox Leisure up on Expansion
In a significant moment for the Indian film industry, Pyaasa, a timeless cult classic starring Guru Dutt, Waheeda Rehman and Mala Sinha has become the first film to be restored to its original quality for the Venice Film Festival. The film will compete with 20 other prestigious restored films from all over the world for the coveted "Venice Classics Award" for the best restored film, at the 72nd Venice Film Festival that will be held from September 2-12 in Venice. Ultra Media and Entertainment, who are the negative rights owners of Pyaasa, have restored this film for the occasion with an objective of preserving and presenting it in its original quality to the global audience. The film, which first released in 1957, was screened on September 11 and 12 in Sala Volpi auditorium at the Venice Film Festival. "It took us four months to restore the film. The final outcome of the restored version can be seen in its original form. Out of the many classics that we restored, Pyaasa has a special place in our hearts," Sushil Kumar Agrawal, CEO, Ultra Media & Entertainment said. "We are planning a theatrical release of Pyaasa post its screening at the Festival," he added. He said the most
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Recouping some of the losses made last week when the broader market was on a weak wicket, the stock of Inox Leisure gained 2 per cent. The multiplex operator, which has been expanding both through the organic and the inorganic route, took over the operations of some movie theatres in Gujarat last week. This has helped Inox Leisure expand its screen count from 377 to 389 and the number of seats from 99,000 to slightly over a lakh. It is the second largest multiplex operator after PVR Cinemas and operates 100 multiplexes across several cities. The stock has in fact gained 26 per cent since the start of the year. After a not-so-good 2014-15 on account of a lacklustre show at the box office, Inox Leisure had put up an impressive performance in the June 2015 quarter. Driven by successful movie releases, the company reported 50 per cent growth in revenue to 349 crore in the June quarter compared with the same period a year ago. Profit, both at the operating and net levels, improved. Operating profit more
than doubled to 67 crore, while net profit grew five-fold to 25 crore. Thanks to big hits such as Baahubali and Bajrangi Bhaijaan, one can look forward to a good show in the September quarter too. With more star studded movies such as Prem Ratan Dhan Pay and Dilwale, slated for release later this year, it can hope for better box office collections in the subsequent quarter too. Given that Inox Leisure is in an expansion mode, it is well placed to gain from successful movie releases. It has plans to expand to 110 properties with 429 screens and 1.1 lakh seats by the end of this fiscal.
DDLJ Now in Japan! Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), the historic blockbuster by Yash Raj Films, achieves yet another milestone in its long list of accomplishments. The film will be screened at the South Asian Gallery of the National Museum of Ethnology in Osaka, Japan. One of the world's largest museums, the National Museum of Ethnology, will screen DDLJ at the Indian Films Special Screening event, with Japanese subtitles. The screening will take place as part of renewal of its South Asian gallery as well as the 20th anniversary of DDLJ. Many of YRF's iconic movie posters will be displayed. DDLJ is the only Hindi film to be screened at the festival, which showcases the best Indian languages films.
Baahubali to Release in 5,000 Screens in China SS Rajamouli's recent release Baahubali - the Beginning is scheduled to release in over 5,000 cinema halls in China and it is all gearing up to beat the records of Aamir Khan's PK and Shah Rukh Khan's Happy New Year. E Stars Films, which distributed The Gunman, Before I Go to Sleep, The November Man, Lone Survivor, Riddick and many other big ticket Hollywood movies in China, has acquired the theatrical rights of blockbuster movie Baahubali - the Beginning. It has grand plans for the release of the movie in the country. Arka Mediaworks Intl., the new sales company established by the film's Hyderabad-based producer Arka Mediaworks, has been instrumental in striking the deal with E Stars Films. Former EuropaCorp executive Francois da Silva, who is the head of the subsidiary company, confirmed the news about E Stars Films bagging the Chinese rights of Baahubali: The Beginning. "Baahubali has achieved so many things and acquired such a special position in Indian cinema that we are in the fortunate position of being able to negotiate with top distributors in territories around the world. We are confident of wrapping up major deals in Latin America, Europe and other territories," said Francois da Silva. Aamir Khan's PK and Shah Rukh Khan's Happy New Year, which were released 5,000 theatres each in China, were the biggest Indian releases in the country. Interestingly, "PK" was distributed by E Stars Films. Now, Baahubali will be released by E Stars Films in November as a revenue sharing quota import. It is looking at a release pattern of some 5,000 screens, or 18% of available theaters. However, PK was released in China on 22, May, 2015 and it collected CNY 116,600,062 at the box office in four weeks. The Aamir Khan starrer is
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arranging English subtitles as well as paying 50,000 fee. The committee will watch the films from September 17 onwards and the final selection will be announced on October 1. Baahubali, which was released on July 10, reportedly collected 540 crore in the first month of its run. The film was also released in Hindi, Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam as well as in countries other than India.
the highest grosser Indian movie in the country. With Baahubali slated to release in equal number of screens, the film is expected to smash the record of PK.
Baahubali in Fray to be India's Entry for Oscars Director SS Rajamouli's magnum opus Baahubali will be in fray for India's nomination in the 'Best Foreign language film' category in the 2016 Oscars. The Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce has proposed Baahubali to be among the films screened before a Film Federation of India (FFI) selection committee, which will then select India's official entry for the Oscars. "We are encouraging other film producers also to send in their entries. But on behalf of the chamber, 'Baahubali' makers have been asked to apply," Telugu Film Producers Association honorary secretary Kodali Venkateshwara Rao said. The FFI will nominate a 17-member committee to watch all the entries received from across the country. "The films will be watched in Hyderabad and after that the Indian entry for the Oscars will be selected," FFI deputy secretary Anindya Dasgupta said. Amol Palekar will be the chairman of this committee. Film producers have been asked to send their entries after following certain norms like preparing and
In the past, there have been controversies over nomination of films for the Oscars. The choice of the selection committee was criticized by producers of the The Lunchbox in 2013 when it failed to get a nomination. The committee had instead chosen 'The Good Road'. The FFI did not take the criticism kindly and demanded an apology from Ritesh Batra, the film's director.
Drishyam Goes Tax Free In UP Drishyam, starring Ajay Devgan and Tabu, has been declared tax free in Uttar Pradesh. The film was granted supplementary budget proposal and is declared tax free in the state. UP being a huge market for the distributors, this move is likely to boost the number of viewers coming to the cinema halls to watch the film. The Indian thriller drama is directed by Nishikant Kamat and produced by Kumar Mangat Pathak, Viacom 18 Motion Pictures and Abhishek Pathak.
PVR Pictures Screens 9 films at TIFF Nine movies under the banner of PVR Pictures (distribution arm of PVR) were screened at the 40th edition of the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this year (September 10 - 20). In the past couple of years, PVR Pictures has emerged as an extremely important business for PVR group. Today, PVR Group holds the largest distributor network with partners like Lions Gate, Annapurna, Lotus, FilmNation, StudioCanal, IM Global, Weinstein, Sierra Affinity. The films will be screened under the category of critically acclaimed international films. Following are films being screened at the Festival: Sicario, Legend, The Program, Equals, Demolition, The Idol, About Ray, Youth and Trumbo. All the films have been distributed under the banner of PVR Pictures. Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, Joint Managing Director, PVR Ltd, said, "The Toronto International Film Festival is definitely a great platform to showcase the success story of PVR Pictures to the world. We are honoured and delighted to unveil the best work of PVR Pictures at such a grand platform. We are hopeful that the movies would be appreciated by the audiences worldwide." He further added, "In the past couple of years PVR Pictures has emerged as an extremely important business for PVR group. Today PVR Pictures is the largest independent studio for Hollywood films in India with partners like Lions Gate, Annapurna, Lotus, FilmNation, StudioCanal, IM Global, Weinstein, Sierra Affinity. TIFF is yet another platform which will showcase the success story of PVR Pictures to the world." From mainstream Bollywood movies to international cinema, PVR Pictures has been endeavouring to cater to different classes by offering a wide range of cinema to be enjoyed by patrons. They have distributed a wide spectrum of movies including
limited audience films like Amy to large scale films like Point Break, London Has Fallen and The Hateful Eight to name a few. Recognised as one of the most significant film festivals globally, the TIFF has become a launching pad for international, Hollywood and Canadian cinema
Inox Hits a Century Inox Leisure Ltd, operator of India's multiplex chain Inox, announced that it has reached a landmark milestone of 100 cinemas in India with the launch of three properties at Rajkot and Gandhi Nagar in a span of just two days. The company launched a property each at R World Rajkot and R World Adalaj, Gandhi Nagar. In addition, the launch of its property at R World R21 Gandhi Nagar also marked its 100th multiplex in India. A journey which began in May 2002, with the opening of its first multiplex with 4 screens at Bund Garden Road, Pune has come a long way. The multiplex chain has been adding more than two screens every month consistently over the past 13 years. Inox is now open to guests at R World, Kasturba Road, Rajkot with 3 screens and 612 seats, at R World, Adalaj, Gandhi Nagar with 3 screens and 1308 seats and at R21, Gandhi Nagar with 6 screens and 686 seats. With these launches Inox brings in the best movie viewing experience for the first time to the audiences of Rajkot and Gandhi Nagar. These three multiplexes take Inox's presence in the state of Gujarat to 10 multiplexes and 40 screens.
multiplex mark. At Inox our aim is to revolutionise the movie watching experience with modern comforts, clear uncompressed sound and bright, crystal clear images coupled with the best service levels. We look forward to provide these and more and enhance the movie viewing experience of our guests in Rajkot and Gandhi Nagar". Luxurious interiors and a comfortable movie viewing experience are the hallmark of Inox. Seats with ample leg space, plush carpeting in the auditoriums, a spacious lobby and state-of-the-art technology; all backed by world-class hospitality, comfort and safety make it a never-seen-before movie experience. Once at the cinema, the customer experience is further enhanced at 'Refuel' the in-house brand of theatre food, which serves an extended menu of flavoured popcorn, hot and cold snacks, beverages and a variety of combos. For easy and convenient ticket booking, Inox also offers online booking on www.inoxmovies.com. It has also launched its mobile ticketing apps for iPhones and Android smartphones. The movies showcased at Inox R World in Rajkot and Inox R World & R21 in Gandhi Nagar in the opening week are Phantom, Drishyam, Manjhi: The Mountain Man, Brothers, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, All Is Well and Fantastic 4, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (dubbed in Hindi). Inox is now present in 54 cities with 100 properties, 389 screens and a total seating capacity of 1,02,035 across India.
Alok Tandon, CEO - Inox Leisure Ltd said, "It is a very happy day for us today to open three multiplexes together and achieve our 100th
September-October 2015
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• S P E C I A L F E AT U R E •
Behind the Mighty
Baahubali It's well-known by now that SS Rajamouli's magnum opus Baahubali: The Beginning grossed INR 577 crore in 38 days, becoming the highest opener of 2015. We look at what makes it the most-watched film of the year. "He came, he saw, he conquered." Can we find a better analogy to describe the success of Baahubali: The Beginning? After all, the bravura of Baahubali seems unflinching even after a month of its release. SS Rajamouli's magnum opus grossed 577 crore in 38 days, becoming the highest opener of 2015. Rarely does a non-Bollywood film catch the imagination of cinemagoers the way Baahubali did, that too in a year when Bollywood films failed to do so. In hindsight, little wonder that the film went beyond regional aspirations from the very beginning. A Telugu film director appearing on national news channels to promote his film was unheard of in the past. But we saw just that in the pre-release phase of the film. And what happened post release is a history. The fact that the dubbed version of Baahubali displayed its might at the box office even in the National Capital Region (Delhi, Noida and Gurgaon) is simply mind boggling. The film was released worldwide in around 4,200 screens and opened with 100 per cent occupancy in Andhra Pradesh and close to 70 per cent occupancy in the rest of the southern states. We take a look at what makes Baahubali the most-watched film of the year.
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Larger Than Life From the casting of the film to its comparisons with Troy, 300 and Hercules, everything about Baahubali is larger than life. Touted
SS Rajamouli were always sky high. Adding to it is the presence of celebrated stars Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty and Tamannaah. Can you ask for more? Well, why not! Music by noted film music composer and playback singer MM Keeravaani or MM Kreem is more than icing on the cake!
Spectacle of Sorts with World-class Special Effects
as India's most expensive film to date, its budget is estimated to be a whopping $40 million! Having given blockbusters Magadheera and Eega (Makkhi in Hindi), expectations from
Since ages, we have been raving about Hollywood films and their outstanding special effects (VFX). Here's India's very own Baahubali, with world-class VFX in every sense of the word. The movie had more than 4,500 VFX shots! About 15 visual effects studios and 600 artists have worked on this magnum opus for more than two years. From the breath-taking waterfall and cliff to
• S P E C I A L F E AT U R E • awe-inspiring jungle and colossal battleground, Baahubali is a spectacle of sorts that leaves you speechless. "I very strongly believe that it is the emotion that drives the film. I try to convey as little as possible through dialogues. I try not to put the story in dialogues. In fact the whole dialogue script of Baahubali is just a 30-40page document," says Rajamouli.
Engaging Soundtrack Dolby Atmos & More If the visual feel of the film is out-ofthe-world, equally engaging is the soundtrack designed by PM Satheesh in the Dolby Atmos format and composed by MM Keeravani. Dolby Atmos, the unique and innovative audio format, is being embraced by more and more cinema exhibitors world over. The use of Dolby Atmos allows sounds to be placed and moved anywhere in the movie theatre so the audiences feel they are part of the action and not just watching it. This also helps retain the essence of filmmaker's original content. Dolby Atmos is considered to be a powerful sound technology because of the way it engages the audiences. The best of Dolby Atmos effect in Baahubali can be experienced in the war scenes. Ashim Mathur, Head of Marketing, Dolby Laboratories India said, "Our exhibitor partners have seen a great increase in occupancy post installing Dolby Atmos. The success of movies like Baahubali reiterates the fact that audiences are looking for great storytelling, and Dolby Atmos has played an important role in keeping the audience captivated by making them feel as if they are in the middle of the onscreen action." "We are very excited with the response Dolby Atmos has received in India, including from directors and sound engineers. We believe that Baahubali was an extraordinary experience with Dolby Atmos," said Pankaj Kedia, Sr Regional Director, India, South East Asia, ANZ, Dolby Laboratories. "With Dolby Atmos, the audiences
are no longer watching a movie but experiencing it." P.M. Satheesh, the sound designer of Baahubali, said, “Using Dolby Atmos for Baahubali has been a captivating experience. I believe that Dolby Atmos is the most powerful sound technology we have ever used, giving us the freedom to place and move sounds anywhere around and above the audiences.” He added, “The massive scale on which the film is shot with the enormous amount of VFX combined with the sound design and mix in Dolby Atmos makes audience feel as if they are in the middle of the onscreen action. One is able to distinguish each and every clink of a soldier’s weapon among thousands. In the war scenes, one can actually feel as if they are flying with the fireballs thrown into the air by the medieval war machines and landing on the enemy’s battlefield thanks to the Dolby Atmos soundtrack.” MM Keeravani, or MM Kreem as he is fondly called, is well-known for his wide repertoire of music in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Kannada films. His musical score for the film made a significant contribution in its thumping success.
Appeal of Epics Mere technical excellence is not enough to drive audiences to cinema hall, week after week. Many films in the past crashed at the box office despite use of state-of-the-art technology. A well told story is the crux of any film that makes its way to the hearts of audiences just as Baahubali did. Talking of stories, we love fables and epics, thanks to our grannies and their art of story-telling.
It is perhaps the same fascination for fantasy that makes us awe struck for this epic.
Wider Acceptance One of the most amazing facets of the buildup and post-release fervour of Baahubali has been its acceptance among Hindi audience. It's an interesting sight when cinema halls with majority of Hindi-speaking viewers chose to watch the dubbed version of a film, which stars actors they may not even have heard of before this film! Whether it was support from filmmaker Karan Johar, who distributed the Hindi version of the film or words of appreciation from the likes of Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, Baahubali was embraced beyond regional aspirations. What more can one say when Big B himself expresses his adulation for the film in media, "I should have been in Baahubali". Speaking on his association with the film, Karan Johar says, "When I experienced the visuals of this film, my mind was literally blown. I don't think Hindi cinema or Indian cinema has seen something like this at all. I felt, if I could help him (Rajamouli) in positioning this film to a larger audience in Hindi belt, it would just be fantastic." Showing confidence in the merit of film, he further adds, "Let me tell you, the Hindi audience to this film is just an add-on. It's going to make its money back in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam… we are like the glorious perk." What next? Wait and watch or shall we say the wait to watch Baahubali the Conclusion in 2016 is on!
September-October 2015
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• INDIA PLEXING •
Abirami Mega Mall
A Spectacular Cinema Destination With his cutting-edge business acumen and understanding of the present-day market dynamics, Abirami Ramanathan has transformed the 4-screen Abirami Theatres into a Mega Mall -- a magnificent cinema destination in Tamil Nadu with state-of-the-art services and facilities. TheatreWorld catches up with the Managing Director. Abirami Ramanathan's foray into the world of cinema exhibition is as fascinating as the four exquisitely themed theatres of Abirami Mega Mall.
Interestingly, his cinematic journey began when he joined Abirami Theatres as a site engineer to undertake the construction of the
building (1974-76)! There was no looking back since then. Mr Ramanathan went on to become the Managing Director of Abirami Theatres (now Abirami Mega Mall).
Cutting-Edge Acumen "When I first visited Bombay in 1964 while I was still studying, my parents and relatives had strongly recommended that I see Maratha
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• INDIA PLEXING • Mandir. After visiting the iconic theatre, I decided I wanted to come up with something unique so that people come to see the theatre," reminisces Mr Ramanathan, who is also the President of Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners Association and a well-known TV serial producer & film distributor in the state today. With his pragmatic understanding of consumer mind and the present-day market dynamics, Mr Ramanathan transformed a four-screen theatre into a magnificent mall with state-ofthe-art facilities. At a time when cinema business was dwindling, Mr Ramanathan took a bold decision to invest further in cinema exhibition. "In 1993, the cinema scenario was in bad shape. Nearly 1000 theatres had closed down in Tamil Nadu. Yet, I wanted to continue, but the question was how," he retorts. The breakthrough came while globe tottering, along with his wife Nallammai Ramanathan. The couple made the best of their travel experience, which became a major inspiration in transforming the cineplex into a spectacular mega mall that eventually opened in 2003.
Uniquely-Themed Interiors Nallammai Ramanathan, a social activist and Executive Director of Abirami Mega Mall, is the woman behind the stunning interiors of the four theatres. While Robot Bala
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• INDIA PLEXING • Abirami has a futuristic look and feel to it, Swarna Sakthi Abirami is designed to resemble an Egyptian palace; the Chinese-themed Shree Annai Abirami is as mesmerizing as the Spanish Opera House look-alike 7 Star Abirami. Awarded as the Best Stand-Alone Theatre of India by Business World, Abirami has many firsts to its credit. They are the pioneers in introducing DTS, digital projection and laser projection and a host of services such as motorized recliner seats, terrace car parking, couple seats, computer ticketing, dial for ticket home delivery, waiter on call and pick up and drop facility with limousine. "At our theatres, you can order anything from dosa to biryani. I don't think any other theatre in India does that," claims Mr Ramanathan.
Thinking Ahead "Keep innovating and updating yourself and give people what they want. If cinema exhibition industry cannot perish in advanced countries like Japan and the US, it cannot perish in India. It's a time-tested business. One can always watch a CD or a pirated at home but you cannot
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September-October 2015
get this ambience. You have a phone call or some or the other distraction to divert your attention. In a cinema hall, you don't even realize who is sitting next to you. You may have a 3D TV but can never enjoy it like in an auditorium. People come here to get wholesome entertainment.
Unfortunately, cinema owners are unwilling to invest sighting dwindling footfalls as a reason. Unless you invest and take the risk, how can you drive in more footfalls? You eventually have to close down. So always think ahead," advises says.
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Renovated AriesPlex SL Cinemas
Splendid Cinematic Experience Featuring 4K Projection and 64-channel Dolby Atmos sound system, the renovated AriesPlex SL Cinemas brings a state-of-the-art cinema-viewing experience to moviegoers. With 4K projection and 64-channel Dolby Atmos installation, the renovated AriesPlex SL Cinemas, one of South India's biggest multiplexes, brings its visitors a promising cinema experience. The 35-year-old SL Cinemas in Thiruvananthapuram, now known as Ariesplex, has been transformed into a state-of-the-art facility with six silver screens offering a whole new viewing experience to cinegoers. Jurassic World 3D version was recently released on Screen 1, possessing giant DMAX 3D screen of 72 feet and a width 30 feet, equivalent of Chinese IMAX 3D. Receiving a wholehearted applause from the audience and experiencing the magical premier show of latest Hollywood film Jurassic World, made B Unnikrishnan, the Managing Director Ariesplex SL Cinemas feel overwhelmed. Ariesplex is the brain child of Sohan Roy, a multinational conglomerate and renowned Hollywood director. It's a dream come true for both of them to offer a world-class multiplex of international standards in India.
Ariesplex theatres feature double 4K Projection with a luminance of 66,000 and Dolby Atmos Sound system with 64 Tracks. The theatres include 2K projection system with silver screens and 5.1 system. The complex has theatres with spectacular 3D projection, first-of-itskind in South India. Special screening spaces are built for exceptional shows and grand exhibitions.
"The experience would be totally different from whatever people have had before. We have spared no expenses and have brought the best technology and facilities that are available," says filmmaker B Unnikrishnan. Ariesplex creates an amazing world of movies, encompassing a thread of commercial theatres, where audience can literally feel the world of movies all around. Ariesplex SL Cinemas is the subsidiary of Aries group of companies headquartered at Sharjah, UAE. The multiplex offers wonderful experience to the moviegoers making them feel cinema like never before. India's film entertainment industry is the largest in the world in terms of the number of films it produces and its theatrical
September-October 2015
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• INDIA PLEXING • admissions. The most modern multiplex theatres can untie wide range of industrial opening in the country, satisfying the complete showbiz needs with high standard services and infrastructures. The multiplexes are facilitated with high definition full projectors for filming, comfortable seating arrangements and 3D capabilities. According to Ariesplex, viewers can watch the movie at the same level of comfort one has at home. Ariesplex is facilitated with high standard shopping spaces, secured parking areas, food courts and beverage facilities. Moreover the booking and payment modes are made very flexible for the customers. Aries Group is the creator of world's first Glasses-Free 3D TV. Aries EPICA marks the spark of innovation, revolutionising the vision and extending arms in the Stereoscopic universe. Some of the prestigious projects of Aries Group include DAM999, Saint Dracula 3D and Kamasutra 3D. The movies together credited 18 Oscar nominations. The Group recently took over Vismayas Max, south India's biggest post production studios with Atmos Sound System in India and hit the high spots in film production. The new venture from the most trusted name Aries Group of Companies, Ariesplex SL Cinemas is at its best creating large-scale landmark commercial multiplexes that can
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perfectly support today's entertainment needs. Three among the six silver screens are now open in the complex. The newly-renovated
theatre gets converted as the latest offering, unparallel technical excellence and attracts mass audience into the shows.
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Mukta A2 Cinemas opened another 3-screen multiplex at Kundli in Haryana. With the unveiling of this multiplex, Mukta A2 now has 31 screens across India.
Mukta A2 Opens
3-Screen Multiplex in Kundli Mukta A2 Cinemas has added yet another feather in its cap. Mukta opened another 3-screen multiplex at Kundli in Haryana. With these 3 screens, Mukta A2 now has 31 screens pan India.
been taking over ailing single screen theatres and renovating them to multiplexes, thus offering quality experience to its patron. Mukta A2
Cinemas strongly promotes the ideology "Multiplex moviewatching experience at budget rates".
The property is spread across 23,225 sq ft with three screens and a total seating capacity of 687. Some of the highlights of the Cinemas include 2K Digital Projection, comfortable seating, state-of-the-art 3D and sound system, exceptional service standards and sumptuous snacking options. This once again goes on to strengthen Mukta A2 Cinemas' commitment to reach audiences in Tier II cities in India. The chain has
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