PVR Introduces Japanese Cuisine at its Gold Class Screens Across the Country PVR Cinemas, a pioneer in the movie and entertainment space in India, is adding yet another innovation by introducing Japanese food to all its Gold Class cinemas across the country. Always ahead of the trend, PVR has, over the years, placed a distinct emphasis on its F&B offering, recognizing cinema viewers needs to make the entire movie-going experience an all-encompassing one, be it a film, delicious snacks, gourmet popcorns or chilled drinks. The focus is on making the experience of watching a movie a fun, holistic one. Japanese cuisine has had a tremendous takeoff in India; once considered unfamiliar and inaccessible, it has become food that is consumed regularly by Indian consumers. The reason behind the popularity of Japanese food is that it is created from fresh, seasonal ingredients, be it meat or vegetables or fish. Japanese food is pleasing to the eye, and is also served in a distinctive style. Always the preserve of expensive restaurants in five-star hotels, Japanese food will be available at affordable prices at PVR's Gold Class cinemas. PVR's vision of enhancing its F&B offering is driven by the noted Chef Yutaka Saito, who after setting up famous Japanese restaurants across the globe, is for the first time developing menus exclusively for cinemas. This is an innovation unique to PVR cinemas and establishes the company's customer focus. On this development, Mr Renaud Palliere, CEO- International Development, PVR Ltd, said, "Movies and food go hand-in-hand and food and beverages (F&B) are a great attraction for the audience. Today's generation is independent and is keen to experiment with food while watching movies. Thus F&B in cinemas provides a huge support to multiplexes." He further added, "Under the clear guidance of internationally renowned Chef Saito,
we have designed in-house kitchens at PVR director's cut and our premium Gold Class properties in Delhi (NCR). We are gradually looking towards getting the same quality and standards for our Gold Class across pan India." Chef Saito is bringing the best of his talents to PVR and will also for the first time introduce a first time-to-India invention, the Japadadog; these are hotdogs with Japanese twist like the chicken sausage with Teriyaki sauce, Japanese mayo and seaweed. At Gold Class, moviegoers can order up all this food in bento boxes made fresh in live kitchens at each cinema. The emphasis will be on delicious, light and affordable Japanese menus.
INOX Leisure Presented an Interactive Film in Association with Isha Foundation Yoga enthusiasts at over 100 theatres across 57 cities came together between 6-7 pm - the outcome of a unique initiative! The occasion of International Day of Yoga this year
was celebrated by INOX Leisure Ltd, India's leading multiplex chain, giving the age-old discipline of yoga a modern twist. An independent film titled -'Life 70mm- The only way out is in', was a joint initiative of INOX and Isha Foundation to showcase the benefits of Yoga in our lives. The hour long feature film provided an immersive experience to audiences by getting viewers to participate in a 15 minute interactive capsule of "Upa-yoga" while being seated in a theatre! The instructions for this were shared on the big screen through a unique narrative of about 4 young people seeking to know about Yoga, and how it led to personal transformation. #YogaWithINOX became a first of its kind activity conceptualized by an entertainment entity in association with a spiritual organisation. The entire initiative was amplified with a robust 360 degree marketing campaign which includes a strategically phased out social media campaign, supported by a print campaign with leading publications and radio tie-ups across the country. Speaking on the success of the activity, Mr. Rajeev Chakrabarti, Chief Marketing Officer, INOX Leisure Ltd, said, "This initiative has many firsts. A first ever One Day, One Show, One Hour movie. A first ever interactive movie based on Yoga. First time ever an entertainment and spiritual organization come together to present something as disruptive as #YogaWithINOX" "The only way to experience true wellbeing is to turn inward. This is what Yoga means - not up, not out, but in. The only way out is in" Sadhguru, Founder, Isha Foundation.
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Carnival Group Signed MoU with the Government of Jharkhand The Government of Jharkhand signed MoU with Carnival Group for setting up minimum 75 theatrescum-recreation zones in 18 out of the state's 24 districts at the Calcutta leg of Momentum Jharkhand, the state's ongoing sales pitch in metros to tap entrepreneurs before its global summit in Ranchi in February 2017. The State Urban Development Department Secretary AK Singh and Carnival Group Chairman Dr. Shrikant Bhasi has signed the pact on 19th August 2016 wherein the company would develop a chain of recreation zones, each unit comprising a multiplex, food court, retail and gaming zones. This is part of the Government's efforts to refine its social infrastructure, where entertainment and recreation have assumed increasingly critical importance to enhance urban cosmopolitanism, boost employment opportunities and woo global investors. Carnival group is set to establish centres across the state that will blend in skill, entertainment and education. Addressing delegates, the chief minister of Jharkhand Raghubar Das said, "There are many options in Jharkhand like entertainment, tourism, food processing, IT sectors with good investment potential. We are trying to address each sector in a phased manner to attract investment." Das spoke for over 30 minutes about the "resurgent Jharkhand's potential and prospects", dismissing Maoism as a "finished ideology" before a gathering of around 500 delegates at The Oberoi Grand, including Carnival Group Chairman Bhasi, ITC COO SanjivPuri, Coal India Limited Chairman Sutirtha Bhattacharya, Bandhan Bank MD Chandrashekhar Ghosh, FICCI West Bengal State Council Chairman Gaurav Swarup, Century Plyboards (India) MD Sajjan Bhajanka and others. Das came with top bureaucrats such as Chief
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Secretary Rajbala Verma, Finance Secretary Amit Khare, Industries and Mines secretary S.K. Barnwal, among others. "According to tie-up, Carnival will set up minimum of 75 theatres-cumrecreational zones in 18 districts of the 24 districts of Jharkhand. The state government will facilitate them land from an acre to 1.5 acres per project," said Under Secretary of The State Urban Development Department Rahul Kumar. Carnival Group spokesperson said, "We are currently busy with district surveys and will launch one-point leisure and lifestyle hangouts for youths and families. In the process of developing green field projects , we may take up additional existing infrastructure such as spacious loss making single-screens to remodel them and make it viable. According to MoU, we have two years from today to start work at the ground level."
PVR Acquires DT Cinemas PVR Limited announced that pursuant to the order passed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI), under Section 31(7) of the
Competition Act, 2002, the company on May 30, 2016 executed an amendment agreement with DLF Utilities Limited (DUL) for acquisition of the cinema exhibition business of DUL (which is operated under the brand name of DT Cinemas) on a slump sale basis for a revised consideration of 433 crores. Further to the above amendment agreements, the company has completed the sale and transfer of DT cinemas on May 31, 2016. With this addition PVR has now acquired 32 screens (29 operational & 3 upcoming) of DUL in National Capital Region and Chandigarh. This would exclude DT Savitri (1 screen) and DT Saket (6 screens) from the deal. Currently, PVR has 524 screens across 114 locations in 47 cities. As a result of the proposed acquisition, PVR will have a presence with 121 multiplexes and 553 screens. Commenting on the deal Mr Ajay Bijli, Chairman cum Managing Director, PVR Ltd said, "It is another milestone for us. This acquisition is in pursuance of our core strategy to offer a world class cinema experience to the discerning Indian consumer."
DLF Exits Cinema Business, Sells 7 Screens to Cinepolis for 64 crore Realty major DLF on Friday announced the sale of its remaining 7 screens of DT Cinemas in the national capital to Cinepolis India for nearly 64 crore, thereby exiting the cinema exhibition business. DLF Ltd had in May entered into an amended agreement to sell its 32
screens of DT cinemas to multiplex operator PVR at a revised consideration of 433 crore. Originally, PVR was to acquire all 39 screens, comprising 9,000 sitting capacity for 500 crore, but the deal was revised after the Competition Commission of India (CCI) raised some objections. DLF operates multiplex arm DT cinemas business under its subsidiary DLF Utilities. "DLF Utilities Ltd, has completed a transaction with Cinepolis India for sale and transfer of remaining seven screens pertaining to DT Cinemas (Saket-6 screens & Greater Kailash Part II - 1 screen) as a going concern on a slump sale basis for a consideration of 63.67 crore upon receipt of the CCI approval," DLF said in a BSE filing. With the closure of this transaction, the company will exit the cinema exhibition business. "This is in line with the company's strategy to focus on company's core business and divest non-core businesses or assets," it added. The CCI had in May approved PVR's proposed acquisition of DT Cinemas from DLF while directing the companies to exclude these 7 screens from the deal to address anticompetitive concerns.
Now, Get a Security Cover With Your Movie Tickets Largest multiplex chain spread across cities in India, Carnival Films Pvt. Ltd. - known as Carnival Cinemas among moviegoers - announced its strategic tie-up with a Mumbai-based Zicom Electronic Security Systems Ltd., popularly known as 'Zicom', which is a pioneer of Electronic Security in India, for providing electronic security to moviegoers. With this tie-up, besides providing
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comfort and pleasant movie watching experience, Carnival Cinemas will now also provide complete electronic security cover to visitors at their 324 screens spread across 118 locations in 89 cities. The electronic security cover will be provided by Zicom and will consist of complete surveillance systems like installation of CCTVs and upgradation of existing systems. As a unique feature, cinegoers visiting Carnival Cinemas' theatres at the night shows will also get a customized mobile security application called 'Ziman' on each movie ticket bought. Through this mobile application 'Ziman', Carnival Cinemas will be able to provide complete safety and security to all the visitors right from the point of entry till they do not reach home safely. Carnival Cinemas has become the first chain of multiplexes in India to exclusively provide total security and safety measures to its customers. Speaking about this innovative tieup, Mr PV Sunil, CEO and Director, Carnival Films Pvt. Ltd. said, "Security issues have become daily part of our lives and movie theatre is a place of comfort. If you look at the industry, you will see a lot of renovation, specifically targeting customer amenities like reclining seats and variety of concession items. In addition to that, Carnival Cinemas always wants to make sure that our patrons are safe. With Zicom, Carnival is going that extra mile to ensure the moviegoers get a sense of being safe and thus enhancing the overall experience." After becoming the security expert of Carnival Cinemas, Mr Pramoud Rao, Managing Director, Zicom-Electronic Security Systems Ltd, said, "We are
very happy to associate with Carnival Cinemas as, collectively, we will be able to ensure a safe and secured environment to movie lovers. There has been immense need of advanced security systems being installed at locations like cinema halls, as it houses a gathering of hundreds of people at a given time. Our specialized security surveillance products and a mobile application like 'Ziman' would de-risk the moviegoers."
Cinepolis Takes Remaining DT Cinema Screens The seven screens still with DLF's cinema chain, DT Cinemas, have been acquired by Mexican multiplex chain Cinepolis. DLF disclosed in a filing on the BSE exchange that the screens were sold for 63.7 crore. The deal is subject to approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The properties in question are in South Delhi -- six screens in the locality of Saket and one in Greater Kailash-II. DLF has, thus, exited the cinema exhibition business. The company used to operate 39 screens and had initially signed an agreement with Ajay Bijli's PVR Cinemas for the sale of all. CCI objected and the deal was reworked; this May, PVR acquired 32 of the screens. This acquisition increases Cinepolis' presence in India to 267 screens. The company is present in 41 Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru. Cinepolis India has also been strategically targeting tier-I/tier-II cities like Hyderabad, Kochi, Vadodara, Pune, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Amritsar, Bhopal, and Vijayawada, to grow its brand presence. Javier Sotomayor, managing director, Cinepolis India, said they'd refurbish the screens it had bought. Adding: "We have plans to transform these
into landmark properties...we have strengthened our presence to 24 screens in Delhi."
All such units which employ 10 or more workers are proposed to be subject to the Act.
Sriram Khattar, head of the rental business at DLF India, said: "This deal is in line with our strategy to focus on our core business."
According to the Labour Ministry, the government has decided to keep warehouses under the purview of the Act after several meetings with stakeholders even though trade unions have opposed it.
YES Securities, a subsidiary of YES Bank, and J Sagar Associates were the financial and legal advisors, respectively, to Cinepolis India on this transaction. And, EY India and Luthra & Luthra were the financial and legal advisors, respectively, for DLF.
Cabinet Approves Law to Enable Shops, Malls, Restaurants to Stay Open 24x7
However the implementation of the Act will depend on states as labour is in the concurrent list and states have their own laws governing the functioning of shops and establishments.
Google Says 1 in 10 Indian Mobile Searches are About Cinema
While Chadha did not disclose the number of queries, she said 1 in 10 searches in India through mobile devices are about cinema. Google offers a similar search experience for cricket in India.
PVR to Raise 250 cr via NCDs Multiplex chain PVR Ltd is looking to raise up to 250 crore through issue of non-convertible debentures to fund various activities, including acquisitions. The company is seeking nod from shareholders to approve the matter at its annual general meeting to be held on September 29. "Based on the needs of funds, the company may issue fresh non-convertible debentures (NCDs) for a sum not exceeding 250 crore for inorganic
The Cabinet cleared the model Shops and Establishment Act that would allow cinema halls, restaurants, shops, banks and other such workplaces to be open 24X7.
growth opportunities, for capital expenditures, to refinance the high cost of borrowings and for corporate and all other business needs of the company," PVR Ltd said in a BSE filing.
Officials said the model Act would also enable women to work during the night in such offices with mandatory cab services and other workplace facilities.
Raising of funds through the issue of NCDs will result in the borrowed money exceeding the aggregate of the company's paid up share capital and free reserves, it added.
With the exception of factories, the draft law proposes to cover all premises or shops with work related to printing, banking, insurance, stocks and shares, brokerage or theatres, cinema and "any other public amusement" and which are currently not covered under the Factories Act 1948.
India is a nation of movie buffs with 1 out of 10 mobile searches in the country being related to cinema, technology giant Google said. The US-based company has now developed a "rich, immersive experience" for its 'search' product to cater to user's queries related to Bollywood and Tollywood, including links to videos and movie screening timings. "Google Search now gives local cinema enthusiasts an easy way to discover and explore everything they want to know about their favourite movies, stars, music, dialogues, actors and more," Google India Marketing Head Sapna Chadha said. She added that the move was influenced by the huge number of queries Google receives in India on its platform related to cinema.
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In order to expedite the raising of the funds, the company is seeking approval of the members to authorise its board for the issue and allotment of the NCDs, the filing added. Earlier this year, PVR had completed acquisition of 32 screens of DT cinemas at a revised consideration of Rs 433 crore after Competition Commission directed the companies to exclude certain assets from the deal to address anti-competitive concerns In June last year, PVR had announced the acquisition of DT Cinemas for Rs 500 crore after aborting from a similar deal in February 2010.
• S P E C I A L F E AT U R E •
Smruti Cinema
Upholding the Single-Screen Legacy With a massive seating capacity and best of amenities, Smruti Cinema in Nagpur is one of the well-known and most prestigious single-screen cinemas in India. At the recently held Big Cine Expo 2016, Smruti Cinema bagged the Best Single-Screen Theatre of the Year award. In the third largest city of Maharashtra, Smruti Cinema strongly upholds the cinematic identity that's fast disappearing in today's age and times. Smruti Cinema in Nagpur is one of the most prestigious singlescreen cinemas in India. Established in 1985, the cinema has a massive seating capacity of 1983 seats. It has been a pioneer in adapting new technology, offering the best of amenities and value for money entertainment to its audiences till date. With excellent air conditioning, top-of-the line projection and sound systems and a huge variety of food and beverages, the cinema has almost always been the top singlescreen in its region in terms of collections. The cinema has 3 auditorium levels and everything is customized to cater to the three price points that tickets are sold at. Each level has been carefully designed to cater to
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different segments of the socioeconomic strata - right from the furniture, to the foyer design, free wi-fi, a play zone for kids, to the F&B options that range from gourmet popcorn imported from the USA and fresh confectioneries from the best bakeries in town to the staple snacks of the 'aam aadmi' such as samosas!
The idea is to be as inclusive as possible and offer quality entertainment at an extremely reasonable cost.
Best Single-Screen Theatre of the Year at Big Cine Expo 2016 The cinema achieved yet another milestone. At the recently held Big Cine Expo 2016, Smruti Cinema bagged the award for Best SingleScreen Theatre of the Year. "The film exhibition sector is the least glamorous arm of the entertainment
• S P E C I A L F E AT U R E • industry and more so, the contribution of the single screen cinemas is not recognized or celebrated at all. TheatreWorld's initiative to acknowledge and support the single screen sector of film exhibition is a welcome move and on behalf of all the single screen cinemas in the country, I'd like to thank the publication for it. The award only encourages us to work harder and contribute further to the entertainment industry in the times to come," says Akshaye Rathi, Director, Rathi Group of Cinemas.
Wholesome Entertainment at Reasonable Cost At a time when multiplexes are sweeping the scene in India, including in Nagpur, Smruti Cinema has managed to keep sailing against the wind. "Constant and continuous up-gradation is the key to survival in these times and we as a group believe that the audience, especially in the tier 2 towns where we operate in, needs and deserves avenues of entertainment and recreation," says Akshaye. "The disposable income levels have risen in these towns, but the people don't have many options to spend on. Turning cinema halls
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into places of wholesome entertainment, coupled with offering good food & beverage options does the trick," he adds. The experience of mass hysteria and collective viewing that single screen cinemas offer is still unmatched. "When you watch a Salman Khan or an Akshay Kumar film in a packed house with hundreds of people clapping and cheering for their hero, the joy you get is terrific! And talking about the more tangible aspects, the average spends for movie-goers at single screen cinemas (ticket price, F&B etc included) is drastically lesser than what they would spend at a
multiplex! Offer great light and sound, comfortable furniture, reasonably priced and tastebudpampering F&B options at a price that wouldn't pinch movie-goers and you're bound to become a low hanging fruit for them to have a go at," explains Akshaye.
Future Plans "While we are contemplating turning it into a multi-screen property coupled with retail, the temptation to keep the legacy of good single screen cinemas alive is rather strong. Either ways, the idea is to retain the property as an avenue of entertainment for the middle class of the Indian society and allow as many people from the city as possible to have a good time without burning a hole in their pockets," says Akshaye.
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Inox Kota
Moving Up in Rajasthan
With the launch of its second property in Rajasthan at The Great Mall of Kota, India's leading multiplex chain Inox strengthen its presence in the state, taking the screen count to 39 and increasing its multiplex count to 12. Celebrating its successful journey, INOX Leisure Ltd, India's leading multiplex chain announced yet another milestone with the launch of its new property in Rajasthan at The Great Mall of Kota, with 4 screens and 861 seats. This will be the second property of INOX in the city and the
newly launched property will further strengthen its presence in Rajasthan, taking the screen count to 39 and increasing its multiplex count to 12. Watching movies at INOX will continue to be an enriching experience for Kota. Once at the cinema, the customer experience is
further enhanced at 'Refuel', the inhouse brand of theatre food, which serves an extended menu of customized delicacies. Beyond the popcorn and nachos, the cinemagoers can also relish beverages and a variety of combo meals inside the cinema. Commenting on the launch, Alok Tandon, CEO, INOX Leisure Ltd said, "There is a growing appetite for quality entertainment in India and considering the population of Kota, we intend to provide them the finest movie watching experience at their doorstep. We have left no stone unturned to bring them an experience to "live the movie" with convenience and comfort." INOX now has 109 multiplexes, 429 screens across 57 cities, making it a truly Pan India multiplex chain.
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• INDIA PLEXING •
Harman's First
Immersive Sound at Citypride At Citypride Multiplex in Kothrud-Pune, Sultan hit the screen with a big bang! One of India's leading multiplex chains in Maharashtra launched the first install of Harman's Proprietary Quantum Logic Immersion Surround-Processing Technology installation with the release of the muchawaited film of the year. Harman Professional India is a leader in professional sound, light, video & control equipment. Citypride, Kothrud launched the first install Harman's Proprietary Quantum Logic Immersion Surround-Processing Technology installation in the county. Harman Professional India is a leader in professional sound, light, video & control equipment. They provided a complete system solution to Citypride, a leading, multiplex chain in Maharashtra which includes Lexicon Quantam logic Immersion (QLI) Surround-Processing technology, JBL Large Format Screen Array loudspeakers and Crown DSI amplifiers. Lexicon by Harman's QLI-32 Quantum Logic Immersion cinema processor is designed to deliver up to 32 channels of surround sound in professional cinema applications. The new QLI-32 interfaces with a theatre's media source to provide a multi-dimensional listening experience with left, centre, right, surround, rear and height channels, all via Harman's proprietary Quantum Logic Immersion surroundprocessing technology. Hence, it offers an effective way for theatre owners to upgrade the movie viewing experience of their patrons with an
immersive sound that is fully compatible with existing cinema processors and is competitively priced.
Upgrading Cinema Viewing Experience with Lexicon by Harman's QLI-32 Citypride Kothrud went ahead with offering its fans deeply immersive cinematic experience and opted for the latest in the cinema surround sound technology offered by Harman Professional. The solution for the auditorium is designed by Samir Mistry, Sr. Engineer Cinema Vertical at Harman Professional India. System Integration was done by City pride's Technical Team under Supervision of Samir Mistry. "Complete solution was designed keeping in mind the requirement of client, for powerful system with wide coverage, good Speech Intelligibility, & Dynamic Range, etc. In short a system that deliver dialogues, music & effects efficiently. All these criteria's were incorporate in Design along with QLI Immersion system to achieve the desired result," says Samir Mistry.
Pushkaraj Chaphalkar, Citypride
"The Crown, JBL and Lexicon system far exceeds our expectations. The combination of the clarity, dynamic power and seamless integration of the speakers and amplifiers with the three-dimensional width, depth and height localization," says Mr Pushkaraj Chaphalkar of Citypride. "As sound is an inseparable part of the movie-viewing experience, this new system not only offers the viewers a new and exciting sound quality. Rarely can one find a cinema system with a more reliability and uncompromising sound, with a cost-efficient and easily
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• INDIA PLEXING • deployed to significantly-improved immersive cinematic sound," says Mr Sadarangani of Vikas Corporation. Excited with the first ever installation of Lexicon by Harman's QLi 32, Prashant Govindan - Sr. Director Harman Professional India added, "Quantum Logic immersion surround sound processing technology will revolutionize the cinema viewing experience which the audiences have never felt before. We are ecstatic with the successful installation at the Citypride multiplex and Sultan was the perfect setting for audiences to enjoy the dhobi pachads with the true surround sound." The audio system at Kothrud features Lexicon's QLI 32 cinema processor;
main screen loudspeaker JBL 5742 (4way) as standard left/center/right configuration behind the screen; JBL
9320 large format 12" high power surround speaker, ideal for cinemas, auditoriums, and venues where
Harman's Lexicon QLI-32
A Cost-effective & Improved Immersive Sound Harman's Lexicon QLI-32 Quantum Logic Immersion cinema processor is designed to deliver up to 32 channels of surround sound in professional cinema applications. The new QLI-32 interfaces with a theatre's media source and existing cinema processor to provide a multidimensional listening experience with left, centre, right, surround, rear and height channels, all via Harman's proprietary Quantum Logic Immersion surroundprocessing technology. In doing so, the QLI-32 provides theatres with a cost-efficient and easily deployed upgrade path to significantly-improved immersive cinematic sound. "Our new QLI-32 offers an effective way for theatre owners to upgrade to immersive surround sound with a product that is fully compatible with existing cinema processors and is competitively priced," said Dan Saenz, Business Segment Manager, Installed and Cinema Sound, Harman
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Professional. "It can be easily integrated into an existing theatre or specified as part of a new installation." The Lexicon QLI-32 utilizes Harman's exclusive Quantum Logic technology to provide up to 32 channels of immersive surround-sound audio over BLU link from any mono stereo, 5.1- or 7.1-channel program material. The Lexicon QLI-32 uses exclusive signal processing techniques to actively analyze the acoustical information in the audio mix and recreate a full three-dimensional sonic environment with width, depth and height by identifying and positioning objects in the sound field - all without adding elements to the original mix. Because the QLI-32 works with existing audio systems, installation costs are reduced and any stereo or multi-channel content can be made immersive. The QLI-32 features an 8-channel analog 25-pin connector, two 8channel AES RJ-45 inputs, a BLU link (2 x RJ-45) input and a BLU link (2 x RJ-45) output. It also provides an
Ethernet port and RJ-45 control connections. The QLI-32 provides Auto EQ per SMPTE 202 and offers 1/3-octave graphic EQ for each of its 32 output channels as well as parametric low-frequency EQ. The QLI-32 can be easily configured via its web-based interface and its simple front-panel control layout provides ready indication of operational status. Measuring 1U rack space high, the QLI-32 installs easily into an equipment rack. Quantum Logic Immersion uses specialized algorithms to extract signal and reverberant streams from the original recording. Individual voices and instruments, as well as reverberant spatial information, are identified and then re-authored into a precise multichannel soundfield. QLI combines the individual signal streams using patented filter bank technology and psychoacoustic modelling to create an immersive multichannel listening experience with exceptional clarity, detail and image specificity.
• INDIA PLEXING • higher volume and a larger coverage area is needed from the surround loudspeakers, especially in a multichannel system, placed on top; JBL 4642A subwoofers; and Crown DSI amplifiers that power the loudspeakers and subwoofers. This auditorium also features JBL's SCS 12, a coaxial-driver, 2-way, full range cinema surround loudspeaker ideal for multi-channel surround formats and is designed for overhead as well as for standard on-wall installations.
System Features: •
LEXICON QLI-32 AND LEXICON BOB-32
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JBL 5742 (Large format 4-way) Main channel (left/centre/right)
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JBL 4642A (Dual 18" subwoofers)
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JBL 9320 ( NEW High powered Height (left/centre/right) and Gap Surround
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JBL SCS 12 Height layer on left and right wall
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JBL 9310 Surround speakers
•
CROWN DSI 2000, 4000 & 6000
Citypride - Forging Ahead Citypride Multiplexes is a whollyowned subsidiary of Chaphalkar Brothers Pune. Citypride brand was established with the vision of brothers Arvind Chaphalkar and Prakash Chaphalkar when the multiplex chain pioneered the first multiplex in Maharashtra and only the second in the country. The legacy is being carried forward by their sons. The group has now grown to 17 properties with total seating capacity of 15000 seats spread over 42 screens in and around Pune and Western Maharashtra. Citypride Kothrud went ahead with this new system to differentiate the services offered to its patrons by giving them a deeply immersive cinematic experience. For this they opted for a complete brand new state-of-the-art sound system selected for this auditorium was designed by Vikas Corporation, Mumbai Harman's Cinema solution provider.
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• INDIA PLEXING •
Mukta A2 Cinemas
Back2Back Launches Mukta A2 Cinemas further branches out to provide cinematic excellence with the launch of its first property in Panvel at the popular K Mall. This is its 16th property in India. The brand also restored the iconic Topiwala Theatre in Goregaon. The heritage cinema revamped itself as Mukta A2 Cinemas to provide impeccable cinematic experience for movie lovers in Mumbai. Panvel One of India's most reputed and esteemed film banners, Mukta Arts Limited have been giving its audiences the best of on-screen entertainment for decades. Its own brand of multiplex theatres Mukta A2 Cinemas is spread across 43 screens in India today. Mukta A2 Cinemas further branches out to provide cinematic excellence with the launch of its first property in Panvel at the popular K Mall. This is Mukta A2's 16th property in India. The property accommodates 3 screens and a seating capacity of 800 people. The multiplex also boasts of comfortable recliner seats at affordable prices, which is an
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exclusive offering to the movie going audience in Navi Mumbai. Mukta A2 Cinemas offers state-ofthe-art technology in picture and sound with Dolby Digital Sound System, 2K Projections and state of the art facilities complimented by a soothing ambience with
comfortable seating and an exciting variety of F&B options. Commenting on the launch- Rahul Puri, Managing Director, Mukta Arts Ltd. said "Panvel is often considered as an isolated place away from Mumbai. It is a fast developing
• INDIA PLEXING • location with various brands making their presence felt. We are thrilled and all the more excited to launch a property right in the heart of Navi Mumbai. Panvel is a haven of movie lovers and with our new property, we are going to bring cinematic experience which will be unbeatable. We have believed in offering our audiences with the best of cinematic experiences and with every cinema launch we are only reiterating that. We look forward to
launching many more properties in the near future."
Satwik Lele, COO, Mukta A2 Cinemas further said, "We are excited about our new venture and look forward to regaling our movie enthusiasts in Panvel. The new multiplex has all the luxuries right from the location, comfortable recliner seating, Dolby Atmos picture and sound quality, F&B and the overall experience that we at Mukta A2 Cinemas strive to offer. The screen has opened its door to the audience with A Flying Jatt on 27 August, 2016."
Topiwala Theatre Film lovers in Goregaon can now get their never-ending dose of movies with Mukta A2 Cinemas right in the heart of Mumbai. The property consists of 2 screens with a seating capacity of 499 people. Mukta A2 Cinemas offers state-of-the-art technology in picture and sound with Digital Projection, Quantum Logic Sound and 3D movie screening capability complimented by a soothing ambience, comfortable seating and a variety Of Sumptuous Food & Beverage options. Quantum Logic technology transforms any stereo or multi-channel audio source into an astounding 7.1 channel surround sound experience. Quantum Logic technology sets a new benchmark in audio signal processing excellence. Commenting on the launch- Rahul Puri, Managing Director, Mukta Arts Ltd said "We always wanted to come up with a multiplex in the suburbs so that our patrons could get a supreme movie watching experience. Topiwala Theatre was an iconic property with a heritage tagline and we are very proud to have taken over this cinema and to keep the
legacy going. Goregaon has always been the hub for movie lovers and with this cinema we plan to bring cinematic experience that will create a benchmark. We at Mukta A2 Cinemas always strive to provide our patrons with a luxury experience at affordable prices across India. Our target is to launch about 50 screens in 2016". Satwik Lele, COO, Mukta A2 Cinemas, further said, "We at Mukta A2 Cinemas are excited about our new venture and look forward to
give movie enthusiasts in Goregaon an all new experience of watching movies. We are very proud to take over Topiwala Cinema and this is a very important milestone for us. The new multiplex will have all the facilities right from the location, comfortable seating, Digital picture projection and Quantum Logic sound, various Food & Beverage options and the overall experience that we at Mukta A2 Cinemas strive to offer pampering our guests in the best possible way". The tremendous response received from the existing screens in Ahmedabad, Baroda, Gulbarga, Vishakapatnam, Banswara, Sailu, Hyderabad, Sangli, Bhopal Kundli , Rajpipla, Aurangabad, Dehradun and Topiwala(Goregaon) has further strengthened Mukta A2 Cinemas' resolve to provide an enriching movie-watching experience to its audiences across cities in India. With its existing properties and robust plans of forthcoming launches in the Middle East (Bahrain) and other cities, Mukta A2 Cinemas is all geared up to entertain all with the best of movie experiences.
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• INDIA PLEXING •
PVR Cinemas
Reinforces in Maharashtra With the launch of its 5-screen multiplex in Panvel and 6-screen multiplex in Palava, India's largest cinema exhibition company, PVR, expands its presence in Maharashtra.
Panvel - 5 Screens In proximity to Mumbai, the heart of the bollywood film industry, Panvel gets its first PVR multiplex. Panvel is an important city of Raigad district (Maharashtra) and is highly populated due to its closeness to Mumbai. The diverse population of the city has created a customer base which is expanding at an exponential rate. However, the market is clearly untapped when one talks about the entertainment destinations. PVR, India's largest cinema exhibition company, realizing the growing demand of a premium entertainment hub, launches its 5screens multiplex at Orion Mall, which is also the first multi-brand mall in the city along with the multiplex. Situated in the heart of city, with ease of access from Railway Station and the ST Bus Depot, the location provides an unexplored viable catchment.
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Speaking at the launch of the cinema, Gautam Dutta, CEO, PVR Cinemas, said, "Panvel is an upcoming city of Maharashtra. It has great infrastructures, good connectivity, affordable residential apartments and an audience, who are highly inclined to watch cinema at the best state-of-the-art facilities. We are very excited to open our first multiplex in the city and hope that our brand becomes equally popular with the people here as well." The newly-launched cinema has a unique and contemporary design of Bollywood artwork and décor with an entrance wall of orange Italian stone portals marking the grand entry to the cinema foyer. The cinema is spread across an area of 25,292 sq ft and is capable of catering to 940 patrons. PVR Cinemas also offer an added convenience to movie-goers with the availability of Quick - tix, a time saving technology to instant
ticketing solution. This allows the patrons to enter the theatre in a quicker and more efficient manner by avoiding the long queues. To add up to the offerings, PVR is also providing recliners for extra comfort. Technology remains the most important aspect of the cinema and PVR provides an exceptional digital movie watching experience to its patrons with 7.1 Digital Dolby surround sound, 4K projection system and 2nd Generation 3D enabled screens. Further, Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, Joint Managing Director, PVR Ltd added, "It is an exciting moment for us as we launch our first multiplex in Panvel. I am sure we will be able to fulfill the expectations of our audience here. On behalf of PVR, I would like to thank M.P Associates, our developers, for providing us a prime location that caters to such a wide spectrum of audience. Since, Panvel now has the much needed
• INDIA PLEXING • premier platform for entertainment in the immediate catchment; the multiplex would stand as the favorite destination for the patrons from Navi Mumbai, Raigad District, Mahad, Roha, Alibagh and the places around it. We are looking forward to a massive response from the city." At the launch, Mangesh Parulekar, Promoter - Orion Mall Panvel (MP Group) said: "Orion Mall Panvel is the first mall in Panvel and PVR Cinemas is the first ever multiplex in entire Navi Mumbai. We are truly proud and honored to be associated with PVR Cinemas. What PVR offers is a complete movie experience which people of Navi Mumbai have never experienced before. There is lot of excitement amongst people here and the PVR Cinemas launch is much awaited. The reason to initiate this project was to offer the people of Panvel excellent quality brands and an overall shopping and entertainment experience. We have been successful in this mission with majority of the anchors and vanilla stores now in operation. PVR Cinemas launch is the cherry on the cake and we believe that this relation with PVR will act as an important attribute to enhance the entire experience we intend to provide at Orion Mall Panvel."
Palava Xperia Mall 6 Screens PVR also inaugurated its newest multiplex at Xperia Mall, Palava. Ajay Bijli, Chairman and Managing Director, PVR Ltd; Abhishek Lodha, Managing Director, Lodha Group; Gautam Dutta, CEO, PVR Cinemas and Mr Shaishav Dharia, Regional CEO, Lodha Group inaugurated the 6-screen hi-tech multiplex at Xperia mall. Jacqueline Fernandez and Tiger Shroff, the star cast of upcoming movie Flying Jatt, graced the occasion by unveiling a larger than life cutout of the movie as part of their movie promotion.
PVR is one of the first properties to open at Lodha Xperia mall at Palava (KDMC region). The mall has a 20 minute proximity and sound connectivity to areas panning right up to Thane-Belapur road, Thane, Navi Mumbai as well as KalyanDombivli. With some of these areas being starved of high quality entertainment options, PVR at Xperia is set to offer the residents of these regions a world-class cinematic experience. With this launch, PVR's screen count in Maharashtra reaches to 147 screens across 35 properties. The cinema is spread across an area of 35,000 sq ft and can accommodate up to 1178 patrons at a time. The multiplex offers an added convenience to movie-goers with the availability of Quick - tix, a time saving technology to instant ticketing solution allowing patrons to enter the theatre quickly by avoiding the long queues. The cinema also follows the QR code concept wherein the patron can walk in straight in the auditorium without any physical tickets. The property boasts of 7.1 Digital Dolby surround sound along with, 2K & 4K projection system and Next Generation 3D. The last row of all the auditoriums has recliners seats for comfortable seating. At the launch, Mr Gautam Dutta, CEO, PVR Cinemas said, "Though the city Palava is a rapidly evolving
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• INDIA PLEXING • destination, there is a dearth of a premium movie watching destinations in the region. Residents here usually travel long hours to watch movies in a refined format. With PVR opening at Palava, residents can now avoid long driving hours to reach a premium cinema to watch movies. With the state of the art technology and comfortable seating, we are sure that our multiplex at Xperia mall would be the next go to place for our patrons." Adding further, Mr Ajay Bijli, Chairman and Managing Director, PVR Ltd said, "It is indeed a pleasure to extend our presence in Maharashtra. We have a strong presence in the capital, Mumbai and have always received a tremendous response from the patrons there. We look forward to an equally rewarding response from Palava's citizens and patrons from the neighboring regions as well. On behalf of PVR, I would also like to thank Lodha Group and Palava City Management to provide us with a
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strategic location to cater to the fast growing suburban catchments of Palava, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mahape, and areas in Navi Mumbai around the mall." Inaugurating the first multiplex of the region, Mr Abhishek Lodha, Managing Director, Lodha Group said, "Rapid urbanization is widening the gap between growth and quality in our mega cities. Palava was envisaged to fill this gap and enhance the quality of living by creating communities, not just developments. Our flagship mall, Xperia, is an attempt to become the shopping, entertainment and sociocultural hub of Palava city and Kalyan-Dombivli region. We thank PVR for partnering us in our journey of making Palava as one of the top places to live and grow." Speaking at the launch of the brand new multiplex, Mr Shaishav Dharia, Regional CEO, Lodha Group said, "At Palava, we have always focused on creating high quality public spaces that enhance the quality of life and avenues where people can come
together and interact with each other. Lodha Xperia mall at Palava, our first endeavor in the retail industry, is planned to become the fastest growing retail and entertainment destination not just for our 25,000+ families but also for others in the neighboring regions. PVR's high quality cinematic experience fits well with Palava's philosophy of offering great lifestyle in a well-planned urban environment. " Tiger Shroff and Jacqueline Fernandez added, "It's always a pleasure to watch movies at PVR. Whether we are in Mumbai, Delhi or out here at Palava, the brand is impeccable. It's good to be back here at Palava - we shot a few scenes of Flying Jatt out here. It's a beautiful place with a well-planned, green and clean environment that can be seen in the film. We had a blast shooting here." With this launch, PVR reaches a total count of 557 screens at 121 properties across 48 cities (including 18 states and 1 Union Territory).
• BUSINESS TREND •
Qube Wire
Driving the Global Digital Cinema Distribution Journey Cinema and technology go hand in hand as is evident in the transition from analogue to digital and now, to web-based movie distribution. The times ahead are going to be interesting thanks to some pioneering initiatives from Qube Cinema, a company that has helped transform the cinema industry globally. Qube Wire is the latest offering and this new web based service promises to change the way movies are distributed globally. Qube Cinema has always been at the forefront of technology in the digital cinema arena and has pioneered several technology revolutions. The company brought digital cinema sound to India with DTS and helped Indian cinema leapfrog a generation, from mono sound directly to digital. With its Qube Cinema end-to-end digital cinema product line, the company has made an impact worldwide with more than 7,000 systems installed in 48 countries across North America, Europe and Asia. It is the only Indian company and amongst a handful worldwide with DCI compliant digital cinema technology. Qube digital cinema servers are present in nearly 4,000 screens across India and the company masters nearly 1,800 Indian movies each year across its offices in Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad. The Qube Cinema Network has also revolutionised cinema advertising in India, using patented technology that allows central control of advertising with local control of movie selection and schedules.
movie was released across 38 countries outside India,including Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, the United States and Canada. The release covered several thousand sites across the world and over 18,000 keys were generated for the movie.
Kalaipuli S Thaanu, the producer of the movie, was impressed by the Qube Wire technology, "I was amazed at the ease of use of Qube Wire and how well it has handled the scale of this movie's release. Kudos to the Qube team for this pioneering product which I believe is quite revolutionary."
Qube Wire is the company's revolutionary new web-based service that promises to change the way movies are distributed worldwide.
Indian Regional Film's Global Release Driven by Qube Wire Across 38 Countries
Jayendra Panchapakesan & Senthil Kumar Co-Founders Real Image Media Technolgies
The first movie release using the Qube Wire service was a regional Indian film that went on to break several Indian box office records. The
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• BUSINESS TREND • Qube Wire streamlines the entire distribution and key management workflows, and by mirroring the agreements in place between the various stakeholders for any given release, it provides a much more powerful engine to drive content delivery to the theatre, upholding finely configured territorial agreements. Qube Wire drives the complete media delivery and authorization process all the way to the release theatres.
Technology Behind Qube Wire Qube Wire is powered by various technologies, from high performance database engines, a distributed and scalable multi-path data pipeline, to a fast-flowing, intuitive web frontend. It is backed by digital cinema standards, end-to-end encryption of all communication channels, and further secured by hardware security modules. Qube Wire results from the natural evolution of another Qube Cinema product called KeySmith which has provided the key management backbone for several thousand features for the past decade. Qube Wire now simplifies and expands the essential technology behind KeySmith and provides a comprehensive feature enabling distribution of content globally using a powerful web interface. Exclusive to Qube Wire is the ability to completely manage the full distribution and release cycles from within a single point, with global theatre coverage and fully supportive of multi-party collaboration, mirroring the existing distribution agreements between the production studio, global distributor, regional distributors, and all other intermediaries. Other unique features to the Qube Wire service target critical industry events such as Film Festivals, which face a very specific set of technical and logistical challenges. The platform serves the needs of not only the festival organization and the associated exhibitors, but also those of the media holders or independent producers that wish to see their content featured at a participating event. To provide this simplicity in the front end, the back end required huge leaps in security and a global database of screens that a dedicated team built up painstakingly over the last two years. Qube Wire's security design won the silver award for Best Deployment and Case Study in
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InfoSecurity Products Guide Global Excellence Awards at the 2015 RSA Conference.
Ease of Global Distribution Qube Wire introduces an amazing patent-pending feature that lets the content owner pick specific territories within which a Distribution Key will work. A company can issue Distribution Keys to other companies within the Qube Wire ecosystem with restricted rights to issue keys only to theatres within certain countries, states or cities, with the added ability to specify exclusions within a territory. Together with multi-level approvals, territorial restrictions allow one company to provide Distribution Keys to another company that mirror the contractual distribution terms between them! When a content owner issues a Distribution Key to another company, they can optionally specify that they need to approve each booking made by the other company. Or they can ask to simply audit what the other company is doing. And best of all, this continues to work even if the new company, in turn, issues a Distribution Key to some other company. So when a content owner distributes internationally, they get to retain overall control of their movie while ceding the part that requires local knowledge - picking the actual theatres and creating a booking.
On Qube Wire, the producer assigns rights for a movie to specific companies for different territories and each company can then sign into the system and make keys for the theatres they want, with everything being verified digitally on the system quickly and easily.
Tangible Benefits The most notable benefits are the extreme simplicity to execute on a complex set of business rules covering all the critical agreements to enforce rights managements.
Security Aspects The Qube Cinema team applied their entire experience in building digital cinema servers with their FIPS 140-2 Level 3 secure media blocks to design an advanced security architecture for Qube Wire.The security solution has multiple layers, from the media asset level, all the way up to the identification of users of the platform, all exhibition locations and everything in between. Producers and filmmakers register their company on Qube Wire and manage their company and user information. Once registered, they have access to all of Qube Wire's features. Qube Wire customers are currently not charged for the services. However, they will soon be charged based on the number of sites for which keys were generated or assets were delivered. Qube Wire will prove a game changer in the distribution of cinema globally and the journey ahead promises to be an exciting one!
• BUSINESS TREND •
The New Kid on Multiplex Block
With PVR unveiling Playhouse and Cinepolis' plan for Junior format next year, Kidsplexing is becoming a reality in India. For the little ones accompanying their parents and guardians to the cinema halls, film viewing experience has always been a matter of adjusting to the senior world. From the seats designed for adults to the lobby area and even rest rooms for that matter, nothing is custom made for the little ones. But not any longer. Some of the biggest multiplex chains in India are now recognising the needs of their junior cinema goers and are in the process of introducing a new format of cinema for them. PVR Cinema, one of India's largest business chains, introduced PVR Playhouse - a movie theatre complete with bean bags, rubberised seats, customised 3D-glasses, a play area with slides and gourmet menu of their own to entertain fidgety little adults. Mexican multiplex giant Cinepolis too is working to introduce its global format Cinepolis Junior by 2017 in India.
Increasing Market for Children's Film This new development is in keeping with increasing Hollywood film
we have experimented with the Junior format where parents can safely leave the children to watch movies relevant to them. Currently, there are not much options in India for parents. We are looking to launch by next year," he added. Cinepolis Junior is expected to have about 200300 seats in the format.
Giving Kids their Own Space
releases, particularly aimed at children. These include The Jungle Book (which collected a whopping Rs.243 crore in the Indian market), The Angry Birds Movie, Kung Fu Panda 3, Finding Dory, The Secret Life of Pet's and Zootopia among others. Among the upcoming pipeline includes Storks, Moana and The Lego Batman. "Hollywood is helping the exhibition business in India. India is a multilingual content player. Besides offering movies in various regional languages, we have also invested heavily in various technologies such as 4D and Imax," says Devang Sampat, Director - Strategic Initiatives, Cinépolis India. "Globally,
"Just as adults children too are inspired by stars. The idea of setting up Playhouse was to let children enjoy in their own space," says PVR CEO Gautam Dutta. The company had started work on Playhouse at least a year and half before the actual launch seeking opinion from young adults on their wants and needs in the theatre. The company plans to open at least 15 by next year. "Any of our multiplexes which has nine screens will get a Playhouse. We plan to roll out three more soon," he said. A typical Playhouse format will have about 50-80 seats. The company will be bringing out a Playhouse 2.0 version, an improved version of the kids format where it plans to monetise non-peak hours by renting out space for birthday parties etc.
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