| The changing face of cinema halls in Chandigarh |
24th Aug 2013
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Kiran Theater in Sec-22
isiting a multiplex has become the new mode of entertainment. The facilities offered, including sound and picture quality, seating and refreshments at multiplexes are better than single screen theatres. As a result, many of the standalone theatres in the city have now closed or have been transformed into multiplexes. Very few have survived. All the single-screen cinema halls in Tricity including KC, Nirman, Jagat, Neelam, Kiran and Batra in Chandigarh, Suraj and KC Palace in Panchkula and Bassi in Mohali, are struggling. Besides the increase in the number of multiplexes, piracy too has made the competition tough by the day.
With more than 840 seats, KC Palace, Panchkula, became functional in 1989 and is one of the oldest cinema halls in Panchkula. Though multiplexes have come up in the surrounding areas, it has managed to survive and still entertains audiences. "Multiplexes are definitely major revenue generators for almost all the movies that touch or cross the 100-crore mark but single screen theatres are important when it comes to box office collection. There are innumerable movie buffs in Chandigarh but a major chunk can't afford the highly priced tickets of the multiplexes and prefer watching movies in the upper stall or balcony here. Single screen theatres cater to a committed audience and are economical as even two movies a week don't leave a hole in your pocket," said Sameer Valecha, Owner, KC Palace, Panchkula.
Some other single screen theaters have transformed with time into multiplexes. These include Dhillon Theatre in Manimajra (now Fun Republic) and Piccadily Theatre in Chandigarh (now Piccadily Square). Piccadily in sector 34 became functional in the year 1975 and was one of the most preferred theatres in the City before it was shut down for renovation in 2008. "With a seating capacity of 1134, Piccadily was one of the biggest single screen theatres in the city and it was doing good business. Multiplexes are in vogue and a business sustains only if it caters to customers' need and modifies itself suitably in time. Multiplexes are gradually replacing the age old cinema halls as they are better revenue generators and visiting one has become a status symbol for movie buffs. Single screen cinema halls have remained a preference for the economically weaker section of the society. When people can shop, eat, and watch movies all under one roof at a mall, why would someone give preference to a single screen hall that caters to just one. The comfort, style, facilities, value for money and status quotient have made multiplexes a hit among moviegoers," said an official from the Piccadily Group.
Neelam Theater in Sec-17
"We were the first in the northern region to start a fully functional mall and multiplex. Single screen theatres are the talk of the past now. I believe it was a right decision to overhaul the theatre into a mall with multiplexes because we got the first-mover advantage. To run a business it's imperative to have the entrepreneurial skills, vision for future, positive outlook and the right approach to execution," said Karan Dhillon, Owner, Dhillon Group (Fun Republic).
For Neelam in sector 17, the 1980s to early 2000s were its days of glory. Babu Raam, one the gatekeepers, reminisces, "Our presence was important as people would come to us and request us to get tickets to skip the queues but now the scene has changed a lot as the queques have shortened and there are not many buyers." It's the same with Kiran, the oldest theatre in the city. Sunil Yadav, a rickshaw puller says, "After a long and hectic day, watching a movie is the most relaxing thing. I never miss a movie and now getting a ticket has become easier, as not many people come to this single-screen theatre."
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