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AM Studios Chooses Barco’s Auro 11.1 AM Studios, one of India's most famous recording studios, recently signed an agreement with Barco to enhance its 3D sound recording capabilities. With the acquisition of the Auro 11.1 system, AM Studios will have a truly world-class environment for audio post-production at its disposal. AM Studios has been a trendsetting recording studio ever since its arrival on the scene in 2005. The studios have an unparalleled history of recording, having worked with some of India's most celebrated artists, producers, composers, film-makers and orchestras. The studios have produced countless landmark recordings and remain one of the most technically advanced recording and mixing facilities in the whole of Asia.
Immersive 3D sound experience Always looking to adapt new technologies ahead of the competition, AM Studios recently decided to enrich its recording studios with the Auro 11.1 creative tool suite, developed by Auro Technologies. The Auro 11.1 format by Barco offers the power to turn conventional cinema audio into a fully immersive 3D sound experience, with sounds coming from all around and above the listeners.
This new deal underlines the importance of the film industry, in India and worldwide, to both Barco and Auro Technologies. These partners constantly look to foster and support creative sound designers and engineers in the adoption of immersive audio. The world-class installation currently taking place at AM Studios will provide its customers with the most advanced mixing environment in India. Also the sound mixing for Maryan, which is an upcoming Tamil drama thriller film directed by Bharat Bala starring Dhanush alongside Parvathi Menon has been done using Auro 11.1 by Barco. Mr. Bharatbala, Director of Maryan said, "Having filmed the movie in accordance with location audio processes optimized for Auro 3D sound, Auro helped me realize the landscape of the movie as an immersive experience. It brought the movie true to life and will immerse the audience in the story in ways I've never been able to capture before."
A fruitful partnership The sound engineers of AM Studios first experienced the Auro 11.1 technology during a series of training sessions at Galaxy Studios (Mol, Belgium). On this course, AM Studios' engineers discovered how the immersive audio of Auro 3D could constitute a distinct asset to
their existing facilities, reaffirming the position of AM Studios as the best sound mixing facility in India. Brian Claypool, Senior Director Strategic Business Development at Barco, stressed how the excellent relationship with AM Studios has been pivotal in this installation, "All of us at Barco and Auro Technologies are deeply honored to have the support of AM studios in the creation of immersive soundtracks using Auro 11.1 by Barco. The level of professionalism and detail shown by the entire staff and stockholders of AM studios in the implementation of Auro 11.1 by Barco facilitates a speedy adoption and workflow. This will definitely support the adoption of Auro on multiple films, moving it forward and bringing a new sonic experience to audiences in India and worldwide." Abel Garamhegyi, Managing Director, Barco India mentions, "Barco's latest product which creates the ultimate premium entertainment experience, Auro 11.1 by Barco reaches the pinnacle of acoustic perfection which we have already achieved in the presentation of motion pictures. The human being is driven by both image and sound and in the movie theatre it is very important to have that combined experience as a total impression on the individual's mind. Auro 11.1 by Barco has the minimum amount of speakers to achieve the maximum amount of that 3 dimensional sound can achieve and this is why more and more cinemas in India realize that this is the best investment. The bookings for the Auro 11.1 halls are much higher than the standard 5.1, we really believe that we capture additional audience with this technology as it can be a very powerful tool against viewing content at home or mobile devices as people can come together and enjoy the overall experience in a way that they can't get anywhere else." July-August 2013
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SPI Cinemas to Power 37 Screens in India with Dolby Atmos
Dolby Laboratories, Inc. and SPI Cinemas, a leading motion picture exhibitor in India, announced that SPI Cinemas will install Dolby Atmos in 37 screens across its leading theatres in Chennai and Coimbatore. Dolby Atmos has quickly become the preferred choice for next-generation cinema sound among major studios, directors, sound teams, and exhibitors around the world. "SPI Cinemas has always been at the forefront of cinema technology and consequently was the first exhibitor in India to introduce Dolby Atmos at our flagship locations Sathyam and Escape. In my opinion, Dolby Atmos is the only truly revolutionary cinema sound technology that has been developed in the past 20 years. The audience response to the first two Dolby Atmos screens has been very positive. You feel as if the story is unfolding around you, not just on the movie screen. Dolby Atmos allows us to present stories with an incredible audio experience that brings movies to life," said Mr. Kiran Reddy, CEO, SPI Cinemas. "Dolby and SPI Cinemas share a common vision of constant innovation to improve the cinematic experience. We are proud of what we've been able to achieve with Dolby Atmos," said Mr. Pankaj Kedia, Country Manager, Dolby Laboratories, India. "Dolby Atmos is a major shift from traditional channel based surround sound. It provides a natural and lifelike audio experience in the theatre. It's a game changer."
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Barco India Holds First Ever Partner Meeting in Bangalore Global visualization leader Barco held its first-ever Partner Meeting in Bangalore, India on 26 and 27 June. Current Barco partners, as well as prospective partners, from all over India, were invited to Bangalore to discover Barco's latest innovations for projection and advanced visualization. For Barco, the meeting was the ideal opportunity to establish itself as partner of choice for any professional visualization and collaboration application. Exhibited there were some of Barco's latest products, including input modules (e.g. the NGS-101), interfaces (e.g. the MCM100s), display controllers (e.g. NGP200), LCD video walls (e.g. the nearseamless MVD-5521), the wireless ClickShare presentation tool and the projection offering resulting from the recent acquisition of Norway's projectiondesign.
Elaborate program On the first day, visitors had the possibility to attend presentations on Barco's strategy, the integration with projection design, new developments in control room collaboration, digital signage and virtual reality, among others. The workshops were followed by product demonstrations. Key eyecatchers were the cutting-edge OBLX LCD video wall and the ClickShare presentation tool. To end the first seminar day, the partners gathered around the table for a nice, informal dinner. Day 2 was marked by a more in-depth look at some of the new products and technologies.
Making the trip More than 100 representatives from various Indian companies were invited to the meeting. Also attending were Barco India's Managing Director Mr. Abel Garamhegyi, the local marketing team and all sales directors. Product Manager Andreas Friedrichsen and
Guy Van Wijmeersch, Director Global Product Marketing made the trip from Barco's headquarters in Belgium to Bangalore.
Towards greater opportunities Barco's partner meeting in Bangalore was quite similar to the one held earlier this year in Malta, albeit on a smaller scale. "We believe this was a great opportunity to educate our Indian partners on AVS, surveillance and network infrastructure, as well as introduce the Connect! partner program," says Vivekanand, Sales Director at Barco India. "Some local adaptations aside, the purpose of the program remains the same to smoothen the co-operation between Barco partners worldwide and open the door to greater opportunities." Mr. Abel Garamheegyi, Managing Director for Barco India, reflects on the importance of the meeting: "Thanks to the recent acquisitions, our product range is bigger than ever, from mid-range solutions all the way up to high-end systems. Barco is very proud to ensure our partners that we will take them along on this exciting ride. This whole event exists to make sure that they know all the possible advantages and solutions of our product portfolio, and help them get the most out of this collaboration."
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PVR Focuses on Merged Theatre Biz Mumbai's oldest multiplex is now one of its swankiest. Having been put on the market by its developers when the previous lease-holders, Inox Leisure and Reliance MediaWorks, which could not afford the rent, the erstwhile Fame multiplex has now been relaunched by PVR (which took on the lease) as one of its ECX (enhanced cinema experience) theatres. Kitted with screens with 2K digital projections, 7.1 Dolby digital surround sound, 3-D enabled screens with JBL's four-way speakers, and with foyers done up in Noce travertine natural stone and PVR's signature black and gold scheme, it promises to be a favored destination for movie premieres and screenings, given its location at the heart of suburbs (Andheri west) frequented by people from both the big and small screen industries. However, a few minutes away, down the same road, is yet another multiplex, Cinemax. While a year back, this could have been a competitor, now it means PVR Cinemas (PVR's exhibition business) has two multiplexes next to each. And, Mumbai's north-western suburb is not the only location where PVR's last year's acquisition, Cinemax, is close by. However, PVR's promoters are not concerned about a common catchment area for its two brands. Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, Joint-MD, PVR Ltd says, "We would like to see more of large format multiplexes come up. We have been able to launch some in places like Bangalore and Kochi. But in cities like Mumbai, we are still looking for space for theatres with 11-screens. So, two theatres in close proximity will let us recreate such an ambience to some extent." With brakes applied to mall development across the country, supply of new screens for the many multiplex chains has decreased. PVR's dual brand presence in Indian cities will alleviate any downturn pang.
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In fact, PVR has already started merging the two brands. "We are in the process of cherry-picking certain Cinemax theatres for the first phase of re-branding. Audits , in the past few months, have shown what upgrades in technology, staff training and food and beverage (F&B) options should be made to these properties before they can be re-branded," says Bijli. So, the Cinemax next door to Andheri's PVR would eventually flaunt the same brand name, as would the single Cinemax property in Delhi, which had required separate branding in a PVR-dominated city till now. The acquisition has led PVR to pause its plans of expanding its non-theatre line of branded gaming and bowling centres called PVR bluO (operated in a JV with Major Cineplex). PVR is investing around Rs 250 crore to revamp some of its own (digitalise and 3-D-enable) and Cinemax's multiplexes. But the focus on nonticket revenues such as F&B and sponsorships at its multiplexes is more intense than ever. First, it is getting its pricing right. Amit Patil, media research analyst with Angel Broking, points out how PVR's strategy in scaling up has worked: "It has been able to variably price a number of services across the board, which have taken advantage of the changes in audience buying power through the day. It is now known for its variable ticket pricing, across time bands in almost all its theatres. In smaller cities, it has even been pricing its F&B variably. So, they have been trying a lot of things, especially in tier II and III cities to see what works." Tier III cities see prices of not more than Rs 100 per ticket. The F&B business clocked Rs 280 crore in 2012-13 (growing at 20 per cent) with the company deploying a mix of outsourced and in-house food preparations. Its JV with L Capital, called PVR Leisure, will further develop F&B concepts. The three ECX
multiplexes (two in Mumbai and one in Bangalore) will have a lot of choice along with a Popcorn Express right at the entry for people to grab some food while they wait to produce their tickets, and avoid a queue once inside. PVR's movie distribution arm, PVR Pictures, headed by Bijli, has also let the parent cross-leverage its exhibition business. "Around 30 per cent of its (PVR's exhibition business) revenue come from Hollywood movies which means more margins since the tickets are higher-priced. PVR also has more 3-D screens which not only mean higher ticket prices but also a longer run, of about five to six weeks, per title," says Amit Patil.
Buy PVR Tickets on Bookmyshow PVR Cinemas has entered into a fiveyear deal with online booking portal Bookmyshow.com. Under this deal, customers can now also book tickets for PVR multiplexes on the website. PVR hopes to generate Rs 1,000 crore in ticketing sales over the next five years through this partnership. Currently, 20 per cent of PVR's ticket sales happen through its own website. With this tie-up, the multiplex chain aims to increase this to 24-25 per cent annually. Pramod Arora, Group president and chief, explains, "The intention here is to capture the audience that was not present on the PVR digital platform. Through this deal, we intend to add a chunk of new customers who are present on Bookmyshow but not on PVR's website." Bookmyshow will also share its customer relation management analytics data with PVR.
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IIFA 2014 to be Held in Florida This year the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards which took place in Macau will be shifting to the United States next year. More specifically, the awards function will be making its maiden trip to the US, by hosting the 2014 edition at the Tampa Bay in Florida. The reason behind this shift is apparently that the organizers are looking at capitalizing on the
an extra ordinary campaign by converting a baseball stadium into a cricket stadium that will feature a match between celebrities and cricketers, during the award ceremony.
massive Indian film fan base in the US. In fact the organizers plan on hosting the event by starting off with
Apart from this, next year's award ceremony will also see performances from noted Hollywood personalities.
4th LIFF to Close with Monsoon Shootout As well as films in the Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi languages, and our first Pakistani film Josh, in
Amit Kumar's trigger happy Monsoon Shootout will be the red carpet UK Premiere opening night film of the Fourth annual London INDIAN Film Festival (July 18-25), Together with O2. This film is a version of Sliding Doors meets a hyper-real cop thriller, which will have you on the edge of your seats. Closing the festival will be a special UK premiere of favourite Bombay Talkies with four magical stories by acclaimed directors Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, Dibakar Banerjee and Anurag Kashyap exploring 100 years of Indian cinema, studded with top independent and Bollywood stars. Both films had a triumphant reception at the recent Cannes Film Festival and special guests are expected to both screenings. Now Europe's largest platform for Indian cinema, the London Indian Film Festival returns to the Capital, celebrating the exploding movement of Indian Independent cinema and bringing to UK audiences a rare selection of cutting-edge films from some of India's hottest independent talents. Going way beyond Bollywood, the festival presents a kaleidoscope of new films that challenge, shock, generate debate and present a more realistic view of India and the subcontinent today, in all its diversity. For the first time, the
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festival is going on tour to Bradford and Glasgow. The festival will stretch citywide, opening in the West End at the historic Cineworld Haymarket, and continuing at BFI Southbank, Cineworld cinemas, Shaftesbury Avenue, Wood Green, Wandsworth, Staples Corner, and the O2 in Royal Greenwich, the Peckamplex and ICA near the Pall Mall, so there is a screening near you, traversing iconic sights and sounds of the city of London like a Monopoly game board. The centerpiece 'In conversation' on Saturday July 20 at the BFI Southbank, will be with Actor Irrfan Khan, one of the very few Indians to straddle Hollywood, British and Indian cinema, talking to award winning director of Senna, Asif Kapadia. Khan's memorable film roles include BAFTA winner, The Warrior and Oscar winners, Slumdog Millionaire and Life of Pi and Hollywood biggies like The Amazing Spider-Man, The Darjeeling Limited and The Namesake, and Bollywood hits Life In A Metro, Mumbai Meri Jaan, New York and Paan Singh Tomar.
Urdu, we will be having a rare 'Life in Pictures' Masterclass, by the great South Indian Director Adoor Gopalakrishnan, on July 19, at BFI Southbank. London Indian Film Festival also has films and events for a wide range of audiences and includes industry events at BAFTA, exploring UK and Indian subcontinent co-productions. The winner of the annual Satyajit Ray short film competition will be announced at the end of the festival at The Nehru Centre in Mayfair. We are delighted to announce that our Major sponsors this year will include O2 International Sim, and the festival is also grant funded for the first time, by the BFI Film Festival Fund. Cary Rajinder Sawhney, Festival Director Comments, "We are delighted that the festival is growing from strength to strength. If you want to find out more about South Asian cinema come and soak yourself in a week of magnificent films in London, or catch the festival tour in Bradford and Glasgow."
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani Releases in Israel
audience there and is currently being promoted on television channels across the country.
The last Bollywood film that released in Israel was the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Devdas (2012). Now after a gap of over 10 years, Eros International released, Ranbir Kapoor-Deepika Padukone starrer Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani in the country. "The release date of the movie in India as well as in Israel was on the same date. There is a huge demand for these movies since Israelis and the local Indian population over there is fond of Indian content," says Kumar Ahuja-President-Business
Development-Eros International. "Earlier Bollywood content was available on DVDs and Indian channels, but this can very well be called the beginning of theatrical age of Hindi movies in Israel", he adds. The Ayan Mukerji directed film has been subtitled in Hebrew for the
Commenting on why no Bollywood film has released in Israel in the last decade, Kumar Ahuja says, "There was no solid distributor in Israel until now and getting prints of the movie is an expensive process. But now Shai Motion Pictures (an Israeli Distributor) has invested in a portable projector which gives them the mobility to showcase movies at different locations at a cost that is much lesser."
Jolly LLB and Murder 3 go to Shanghai In a rare honour for any studio in India, Fox Star Studios' two Hindi films released in 2013 were featured at the 16th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) in its international panorama section. With celebrated director Subhash Kapoor's Jolly LLB and debutant film maker Vishesh Bhatt's Murder 3 were showcased between June 16 June 23, Fox Star Studios’ presence at SIFF will reflected the sheer versatility of Hindi cinema as it celebrates its 100 years. The films were a part of the spectrum section of the international panorama section which also includes-Official
Selection, Tribute to Masters, View China and Global Village. China's largest and one of Asia's biggest film festivals on the international circuit, the current edition of SIFF is expected to cater to more than 200,000 Chinese movie lovers apart from international visitors from across the globe. Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios says, "We are mighty pleased to get an invitation from the Shanghai International Film Festival. Jolly LLB and Murder 3 are films that we are proud of and they are also representative of our commitment towards creating diverse and high content cinema-which while being massy and entertaining also pushes
the envelope. For us, it's an honour that in the 100th year of Indian cinema, we got a chance to showcase different strands of our cinema at a global platform."
Uday Chopra to make a biopic on Ingrid Bergman of Bergman and war photographer Robert Capa, When asked Uday about keeping the love story of Bergman as the central plot, Uday said that Ingrid Bergman was an
YRF Entertainment which is now all set to step into Hollywood, has joined hands with popular writer Arash Amel, of Grace of Monaco fame, and will be making a movie on the Hollywood star Ingrid Bergman. Known for her popular roles in movies like Gaslight, Casablanca and many more, Bergman has been an Academy winner thrice.
However, the YRF untitled will be based on the novel 'Seducing Ingrid Bergman' written by Chris Greenhaigh, which is the real life graphic love story
icon and her romance with war photographer Robert Capa is a story that needs to be told. He feels that it is a very moving story of a woman which also delivers a message that goes deeper than the life of just one woman.
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• INDIA PLEXING •
Entertaining the Country in Style PVR is the largest and the most premium film entertainment company in India and is listed as the Most Trusted Brand in the Category of Entertainment by The Brand Trust Report, 2013. PVR currently operates a cinema circuit consisting of 382 screens in 88 cinemas in 36 cities across India. The premium brand of the multiplex 'PVR Premiere' comprises the Gold Class Cinemas catering to the esteemed urban consumers with numerous facilities. Redefining the cinema viewing experience for the movie aficionados, PVR's Director Cut is the newest foray in luxury cinema. Further, with an aim to provide world-class immersive viewing, PVR opened IMAX Theatre at PVR Forum, Bangalore and ECX (Enhanced Cinema Experience) at Orion Mall, Bangalore & Kurla, and Mumbai. PVR recently acquired Cinemax India Limited emerging as India's largest multiplex chain. The company through its subsidiary, 'PVR Pictures' is involved in distribution of Indian
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and International films across India and also supports independent filmmakers by releasing their films under the 'PVR Director's Rare' banner. Its other new subsidiary PVR Leisure Limited, a joint venture between PVR Ltd and L Capital, focuses on rolling out F&B and retail entertainment concepts including but not limited to Hospitality and
Leisure/Gaming. The company's existing retail entertainment venture PVR blu-O that currently encompasses Bowling Alleys, Karaoke rooms, Gaming Lounges with 5 centres across Gurgaon, Delhi, Pune & Bangalore forms a part of the new subsidiary. PVR has been expanding and the recent setups are as follows -
• INDIA PLEXING • PVR’s Largest Multiplex of Chandigarh at Elante Mall PVR Ltd., launched its second multiplex in the city of Chandigarh. PVR opens the multiplex at Elante Mall, the largest mall of Chandigarh. The Mall has been developed by Larsen & Toubro Realty Ltd, a subsidiary of seven decade old L&T group, a name synonymous with world class infrastructure development across the world. The eight screen cinema is spread across an area of 70,000 sq. ft. and will have the highest screen count in Chandigarh. With the launch of PVR in Chandigarh, PVR's screen count will increase to 382 screens in 88 cinemas and presence in 36 cities across India. Just like the city of Chandigarh, vibrant and the face of modern India, the new multiplex also boasts of a bold and vibrant design. It's a bright space designed with the use of beige stone, bright onyx and Infinity lights. The multiplex incorporates the best in cinema technology such as 2K Digital projection, 7.1 Dolby surround sound, 3D enabled silver screens and a combination of JBL 3-way and 4-way speakers. Following a colour theme of red & purple for every alternate audi, the multiplex will also provide Gold Class recliners at selected rows of seating for an enhanced movie viewing experience. The lounge will have a Café Coffee Day outlet inside the cinema for real coffee lovers, Gelato ice-cream, pizza and sandwich kiosk, a concept introduced for the first time at a Cinema in Chandigarh amidst the regular candy bar menu of popcorns and nachos. Speaking on the launch, Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, Joint Managing Director, PVR Ltd. said, "The Northern part of India has always been a very crucial market for us and the opening of the largest multiplex in the capital of Punjab & Haryana is certainly a step in the right direction. Chandigarh is known internationally for its architecture & urban design and PVR as a world class cinema complements this recognition. We have planned this property keeping in mind the contemporary audience aspirations July-August 2013
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on cinema entertainment. Going further, we will continue with our aggressive growth plan for extending our footprint across the country." Mr. Awadh Vashishta, COO, Elante Mall commenting on the launch,
expressed, "Business, Stay and Entertainment are what one would experience at Elante. We are extremely pleased to be associated with PVR Cinemas, the leaders in the cinema entertainment world in India. The people of Chandigarh had been
eagerly awaiting the opening of the mall and we are glad that PVR as a popular cinema chain in India will be able to meet their demands of the best in cinema entertainment marked by digital projection, high-quality sound system and plush seats."
PVR at Phoenix Market City Mall, Bangalore PVR Ltd., announced the launch of its third multiplex in Bangalore at Phoenix Market City Mall, Bangalore. The multiplex offers nine-screens with a seating capacity of 1492 making it the second largest PVR property in Bangalore. Considering Bangalore as a wellknown IT hub, PVR has tried to match the attributes of the city by bringing in the best and varied technologies for its customers. The multiplex has also been designed in a classifiable manner with the interiors resembling the inner workings of a machine while the exterior being sleek and refined, referencing the outer shell of a computer. The newly constructed PVR multiplex at Market city, which encompasses with rich technology throughout the interior and exterior was inaugurated by renowned Bollywood personalities Ranveer Singh & Sonakshi Sinha along with Mr. Ajay Bijli, Chairman and Managing Director, PVR Ltd. Mr. Ajay Bijli, Chairman and Managing Director, PVR Ltd, said : "There is a growing appetite for entertainment in India with an increasing awareness for premium
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quality & sound. Considering Bangalore as a Silicon Valley of India; we have aimed to offer our
customers with rich technology throughout the interior and exteriors of the property. With no dearth of entertainment in the city burgeoning with massive shopping malls, pubs, art galleries & auditoriums, PVR has strategically planned its third premium multiplex, giving an easy access to the people of the city to catch their favorite movies." From the architectural point of view to the offerings in food & beverages, PVR has always aimed to bring the unmatched cinema viewing experience for its movie aficionados. PVR cinema at Phoenix Market City will include a specialized & wide menu ranging from frozen treat (gelatos), pizzas, dimsums, fries & sandwiches. Amid the popcorn and nachos, the cinema-goers will also have a treat with a Café Coffee Day lounge, candy bar and much more. The cinema amidst offering exceptional architecture also comprises of 2K Digital projection with Dolby Digital, 7.1 Surround Sound. It is also 3D enabled with 3way JBL speakers. Adding to the luxury, the multiplex will have prime and recliner seats inside the Audis as well.
• INDIA PLEXING • PVR’s First IMAX Theatre in Mumbai PVR Ltd., launched its first IMAX theatre in Mumbai at the PVR Phoenix Mills. PVR joined forces with IMAX Corporation, an innovator in entertainment technology, to bring the most immersive movie-going experience for its patrons. Kotak sponsored the launch event of PVR IMAX theatre at PVR Phoenix Mills, which is strategically located at Lower Parel, one of the fastest developing neighborhoods in the world. Kotak sponsored the launch event of PVR IMAX in Mumbai. The launch of the PVR IMAX theatre was graced by the presence of renowned actor Aamir Khan, who is known for his patronage of new technology. Other dignitaries at the launch event included, Mr. Ajay Bijli, Chairman and Managing Director, PVR Ltd.; Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, Joint Managing Director, PVR Ltd.; Mr. KVS Manian, President-Consumer Banking, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. & Mr. Don Savant, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Asia Pacific, IMAX Corporation. The event included a private screening of Warner Brothers’ highly anticipated summer blockbuster, Man of Steel, which has been digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience with proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Remastering) technology. The new PVR IMAX theatre at PVR Phoenix Mills offers movie-goers a
truly immersive cinematic experience, allowing them to enjoy the biggest blockbusters like never before. IMAX's cutting-edge projection system, which delivers crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital sound system create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie. Mr. Ajay Bijli, CMD, PVR Ltd., said, "Mumbai has always symbolized the significance and magnitude of cinematic experiences. Bringing the second IMAX theatre, after Bangalore, was indeed a planned step to offer the finest cinematic
experience to discerning movie-goers. After receiving a positive response from Bangalore audiences, we planned to launch IMAX in Mumbai. PVR has a long association with Kotak, and we feel ecstatic to have Kotak sponsor the launch event of PVR IMAX for our viewers in Mumbai. Movie aficionados across the city beside the posh locality of Lower Parel will experience an elevated cinematic experience at the PVRIMAX theatre." On the occasion, Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, JMD, PVR Ltd., said, "We are extremely delighted to launch our dream project-the IMAX theatre in Mumbai, known as the 'City of
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• INDIA PLEXING • Dreams' and home to the film fraternity of India. With the technology boom, the expectations of our audiences are also growing day-by-day and we now feel proud to offer our esteemed patrons the best in cutting-edge entertainment technology with The IMAX Experience. After showcasing Hollywood movies, we are delighted that IMAX will soon present Bollywood titles in its immersive format, which is sure to be a tremendous success among the passionate film fans of India." "Building on the success of the PVR IMAX theatre in Bangalore, we are delighted to bring IMAX to Mumbai with Mr. Ajay Bijli & PVR, our valued and strategic partner in India who shares our passion for delivering world-class entertainment experiences," said Don Savant, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Asia Pacific, IMAX
Corporation. "We are also committed to presenting the best in Bollywood films in IMAX. With our three-film partnership with Yash Raj Films, we are delivering on this promise and
look forward to bringing the legendary studio's most anticipated movies to fans in our premium format."
PVR Revamps Multiplex in Mumbai PVR Ltd., has revamped the FAME Multiplex in Andheri, Mumbai. The five-screen multiplex is an Enhanced Cinema Experience (ECX) property, the latest values add by PVR that aims to bring the next level of entertainment to movie connoisseurs for an ultimate cinematic experience. Mr. Ajay Bijli, CMD, PVR Ltd, said: "Mumbai has always symbolised the
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• INDIA PLEXING •
significance and magnitude of entertainment and cinematic experiences. Re-launching one of the oldest and significant multiplex is a planned move keeping in mind the growing needs of discerning audiences for quality cinema. We are thrilled to offer movie aficionados the finest cinematic experience in the city." On the occasion of the re-launch of Mumbai's first multiplex, Mr. Ajay Bijli, Chairman, PVR Ltd along with Mr. Sanjeev Bijli, JMD, PVR Ltd, and acclaimed actor & producer Akshay Kumar, launched 'Cinema Etiquettes', a short promo film that has the actor replaying his character in the upcoming sequel, Once Upon a Time in Mumbai, and addressing moviegoers on the rightful manner of conducting themselves in a theatre. The event was marked by another milestone - the launch of India's first crowd-sourced National Anthem film in honour of PVR, Andheri. Mr. Sanjeev Bijli, JMD, PVR Ltd, said: "Having witnessed the stupendous growth of Indian cinema, the joy of revamping the Andheri property and commemorating 100 years of Indian cinema is unparalleled. The property is located strategically in the heart of the film industry. We are delighted to offer this refurbished property to our patrons."
walls, the cinema exudes style and modernity. The ceiling has an interesting inclined cove design dressed in a high gloss wooden finish; the entrances to the auditoriums are in a striking brown potro stone finish, with golden streaks that infuse vigour in the design; the food counters, clad in beige stone, have a warm and inviting look and the celebrity
lounge as the name suggests, brims with glamour and luxury. The special silver screens have 2K digital projections and 7.1 Dolby digital surround sound. The screens are 3D enabled with JBL four-way speakers. There is a wide array of food and beverages, with a mini concessionaire called Popcorn Express in the preentrance vestibule for those who want to grab some pepsi and popcorn on the go.
With this launch, PVR has introduced the Enhanced Cinema Experience (ECX) in two of its cinemas - the first being at PVR Kurla. ECX pays special emphasis to the design, colours and lighting in a cinema. The revamped Fame has a mature and sophisticated appearance, enhanced by PVR's corporate colours of black and gold. From the use of exquisite Noche travertine stone on the floors to the warm walnut wooden panels on the
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• INDIA PLEXING • PVR’s 9 Screen at Lulu Mall, Kerala PVR Ltd., launched its nine screen multiplex at the largest mall of Kerala, the Lulu Mall, Kochi. The launch is part of PVR's organic growth strategy of expanding its presence across Pan India. PVR today has spread its footprint in Kochi which is one of the largest and most important cities of Kerala, also known as 'God's own country'. The multiplex is spread across an area of 71,000 sq ft, with a capacity of 2,192 seats. A perfect destination for tourism, holidays, art and culture, the city will now enjoy another avenue for entertainment with the PVR multiplex, encompassing 2K Digital projection, 7.1 Dolby surround sound, 3D enabled silver screens and JBL 4-way speakers. The cinema besides offering an exceptional movie watching experience will also provide a wide range of food & beverage options. PVR Kochi has been designed in the most distinctive manner highlighting its main feature of the "ribbon" design that flows from the ceiling onto the walls and then onto the flooring integrating the entire space. Back lit corian has been used as a key element to highlight the audi entrances, candy bar and box office areas. Alternate audis have either red or purple colour schemes with matching wall panels, carpet and
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seats. The audis have three categories of seats - normal, prime & recliners. On the occasion, Mr. Pramod Arora, Group President, PVR Ltd. said, "With the intention of bringing quality cinema to its patrons across India, PVR spreads its wings to yet another city, Kochi, one of the emerging global cities. This launch is a step towards PVR's commitment of providing wholistic cinema viewing experience to the movie-goers. Keeping in mind the changing tastes of the discerning audience, we feel happy to bring to our audience the latest in cinema infrastructure-highquality sound system, digital projection and 3D screens.
Yususffali M.A., Managing Director of LULU Group, promoters of LULU Mall Kochi commenting on the launch said "We have always wanted only the very best for our iconic mall and that is evident in the tenant mix we have be it fashion, lifestyle, entertainment or food segment. So, it's quite natural when we considered cinema we only opted for PVR which will surely provide the movie lovers of Kochi to a world class cinema viewing experience. PVR, with their huge brand popularity and expertise will add immense value to our Mall and I am sure it will be a "SUPER HIT" among the discerning patrons of not just Kochi but entire Kerala."
• INDIA PLEXING •
Priya Cinemas
Sets Foot in Agartala
Shri Manik Sarkar along with other dignitaries from the State Government, Local administration and eminent citizens of Agartala attended the inauguration on 3rd June.
Priya Entertainments, eastern India's leading entertainment conglomerate sets foot in Agartala. From June 2013 Priya Entertainments started offering quality entertainment at affordable prices taking over the operation and management of the "Balaka" auditorium located at City Centre complex, Paradise Chowmuhani, Agartala by the Society for Management of City Centre. Shri. Arijit Dutta, Managing Director, Priya Entertainments Pvt Ltd announced the opening of the single screen theatre at the capital of Tripura. PEPL sincerely hopes to replicate the concept of promoting multi-lingual culture by exhibiting quality Bengali, National language & Hollywood movies of both popular and artistic genre for providing whole-some.
floor of the Agartala City Centre at 6 pm on 3rd June 2013. Honorable Chief Minister of Tripura
The latest offering opened up a completely new territory for the organization as Agartala is touted to be one of the next big destinations for quality urban living. It is one of the happening cities of North East thus paving the way for the leaders in entertainment industry of East, PEPL, foraying into the virgin territories and also a promise to provide quality entertainment at affordable prices and state of the art facilities for cine viewing.
PEPL had the Inaugural Function with a press conference from 3 pm followed cultural program at 6 pm which included Tagore songs, recitation as well as dance drama at the "Balaka" auditorium on the third July-August 2013
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• INDIA PLEXING •
With the rapid expansion of the economy, many big multinational and trans-national brands have made steady inroads into the markets of Tier-II & Tier-III cities Agartala with its strong cultural and educational hubs, have the presence of these brands in recent years. Also PEPL acknowledges the proactive role of State Government of Tripura in promoting quality culture and feels that their support shall enable them to reach out to the masses. Priya Entertainments acknowledges the importance of one of the fastestgrowing cities in the North East. With the objective to cater to the citizens of Agartala and its adjoining areas in Tripura with quality Bengali, Hindi and English releases every week, Priya Entertainments now launched City Centre Audi. City Centre Audi Agartala provides the same amenities and facilities to the movie-goers at a lower price, compared to the local cinema auditoriums that are already in business. With the ever-rising demand in Bengali movies and Priya Entertainments' constant endeavor to uphold the Tollywood industry,
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City Centre Audi is the perfect launch-pad for the locals to enjoy and cherish film-entertainment.
Bollywood and Hollywood releases shall also be screened in the latest available technology.
• TECHNOLOGY •
Hearing the Picture The magical experience of going to a cinema is shared and enjoyed by whole of the humanity. The euphoria belongs to all of us. Though the history of movies began in 1890's, it took another 4 decades to invent the sound technology in movies. We bring to you the insight of Cinema AV from one of the pioneers in industry in India, Hi-Tech Audio Systems Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi. Since its inception in 1990, Hi-Tech is no stranger in market of professional AV products. With the ordination profile comprising of design, supply, installation & commissioning at more than 23 airports, various hospitality projects like hotels, resorts, lounges etc., CWG stadiums, Government legislative assemblies and 100s of cinemas theatres, the company has grown exponentially and now has a strong PAN India distributor network and various regional offices. Rajan Gupta, Director, Hi-Tech Audio Systems Pvt. Ltd., shares his views and vision on the cinema market, which is one of their forte. "Cinema, perhaps is the most involving and economical way of entertainment. Revenues from the theater segment alone constitute major share of the overall revenue generated for a movie. A good cinema experience means to see the visuals and hear the soundtracks exactly as their creators intended. In the earlier days, cinemas had to deal with multi reel movies, which were manually loaded onto the projectors. As the world of cinema powered forward in the digital age, mainstream use of 35mm projection ceased to exist. Technologies like 3D, VFX, animation etc came into picture with equally improved and updated projectors and screens. These machines are compact, easy to install and use, without compromising on the picture quality. Brands like Christie, Barco etc. continuously invest in R & D to make these screens and projectors completely compatible with new
cinema video formats like 2k, 4k, IMAX HD etc." said Mr. Gupta. He further elaborated," Along with the shift in film format, cinema sound underwent a drastic change, with new technologies emerging almost every 10 years. In the mid 70's, the audience started dictating the need for good quality sound in cinemas as well, which was limited to their personal compact discs. Then came in CDS (Cinema Digital Sound) format, replacing the analogue audio tracks on 35mm and 70mm prints with 5.1 discrete audio. But this technology quickly became obsolete with the emergence of Digital Theatre System (DTS) and Dolby Digital formats. " "The trend in cinemas has shifted from large auditoria to cinema complexes in the recent years. This has enabled the operators to program all the shows they schedule simply by presetting on the control. Debuts of multi - channel surround sound format promise fully immersive experiences beyond 7.1. One revolutionary breakthrough in cinema sound history is Dolby ATMOS. In Dolby Atmos system framework, it saves dialogs, sound effects and music in DCP as 128 audio objects that are rendered into as many as 64-channel outputs to suit the theatrical playback system. Hugely different number of channels compared to 5.1 or 7.1 is aimed to achieve the reality of sound sensation unattainable before in order to further enhance the immersiveness into the story. Traditionally, the theatrical system used to define the surround space in 3 elements of left side, right side and back walls. Even later in the time of discrete 5.1, the difference in the timbre and localization between highly linear screen speakers and surround arrays was very profound. Now recommended ceiling speakers do not form a single common channel in array. They consist 2 lines front to back, left and right, again each functioning individually, driven by unique, separate amplifier for each.
Rajan Gupta Director, Hi-Tech Audio Systems
Another change in the theatre system is the addition of surround speakers closer to the screen in sidewalls to help localizing the sound in the very far end out of the screen. The surround speakers are required to stand up as an individual in their technical specifications." Mr. Gupta adds," With the advent of digital cinema and the growth of multiplexes, trends in cinema sound are changing rapidly. Collaboration with international production houses & studios, rise in 3D cinemas, wider movie formats, has led to realization of the customer to procure the latest technically compatible products and infrastructure which can be expanded as and when required. The opportunity for immersion and integration is now being accepted on an enterprise level. We also need to take care while designing a systems for cinema is the requirement to run alternate contents in cinemas like sport matches, ballets etc. " " Hi-Tech is all geared up with brand associations to best of the companies in Pro AV to supply the best products in the market. Our exclusive teamof Cinema sound application engineers is highly trained and have already been part of successful installations at various cinema chains and screens across the country. The industry has quickly adapted itself with the latest technological advancements and is rapidly progressing." He ends on a positive note, saying "The future of cinema is not limited to a single technology but an amalgamation of various formats in video and sound alike. We endeavor to serve this segment of Pro Audio by bringing the best of technologies and brands to India to make each of the cinemas at par with international standards." July-August 2013
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