Cinemas take a beating from multiplexes

Good old cinema is on the brink of extinction. Blame it on multiplexes or the failure of cinema owners to deliver services and affordable tickets, the poor man’s medium is dying. And with it is dying the joy of cinema - once synonymous with excitement.

Faced by market forces that are projecting multiplexes as a necessity rather than luxury, old cinemas are bowing out of competition. Jagat and KC in Sector 17 have shut shop with plans to open multiplexes. Other cinemas will follow suit, considering the tricity will have about 15 multiplexes in future. While five are expected to open in Chandigarh, two each will open in Mohali and Panchkula. Zirakpur, with a plan of 11, tops the list.

In the midst of maddening change, the prey is the poor man for whom a major avenue of entertainment is closing down. A medium that was so much a part of his world is now slipping out of hand due to pressures of economy.

“Gone are the days,” says G.S. Chani, theatre artiste, who has seen modernity take over tradition in a rather painful way. No wonder he is not a votary of multiplexes, which steal joy out of cinema. “I went to Fun Republic (FR) once. The place seemed to jibe at the poor. I missed the catcalls and the charm that was so palpable once. The place can give you services, but it can’t give you joy. This kind of cinema deepens the chasm between the haves and the have nots. I wish our cinemas were hygienic and well-quipped enough to attract clients,” he said. But not all consumers think like Chani. Dolly Ahluwalia, costume designer for Vishal Bhardwaj’s “Omkara”, said it was important to change with the times. “World-over the trends are changing. It is no more the old game where movies were made at low budgets. Producers are now putting big money into films.

They also need to recover costs and we, as consumers, must share that cost. Further, multiplexes give you the real feel of technology that goes into making of a film. You get good acoustics, good picture quality, good seating and value for money. Imagine watching “Krrish” at Nirman,” she said.

Those in the business say the cost of watching films in multiplexes will slide once more halls come up. Mr J.S. Jolly of Fun Republic - the only running multiplex - says, “Compared to dilapidated halls, which charge Rs 70 for balcony and Rs 40 and Rs 20 for upper and lower stalls, respectively, we are charging Rs 150 for a “gold” ticket on weekends (Friday to Sunday).” The cost of silver and bronze tickets on weekends is Rs 120 and Rs 70, respectively. The corresponding costs on weekdays are Rs 110, Rs 100 and Rs 60 respectively.

As for cinema houses, they remain worn-out as ever. Owners blame it on declining profits, but clients say the UT Administration has not been strict with cinema owners. The last major raid on cinemas was conducted during the tenure of the then DC Arun Kumar. No intensive raids have followed. In the bargain, traditional cinema is taking a beating.