Luxury watch

The city’s film-addicts have been logging their best entertainment moments during their trips to neighbourhood multiplexes over popcorn and cold drink. This weekend BIG Cinema will better it with the opening of Mumbai’s first Megaplex with nine screens at R City Mall in Ghatkopar West.

In India,nothing can be bigger than cinema in the field of entertainment. And BIG Cinema cashes in on that by making cinema-viewing a luxurious affair that’s not restricted to just what’s running on their screens. “We are focused on making each trip of our visitors worthwhile with rocker chairs,sprawling lounge,coffee shop,book store and restaurant,” says Tushar Dhingra,COO of BIG Cinemas.

The multiplex officially opens on Friday with shows of Dil Bole Hadippa! and Wanted. But on Tuesday evening,Farhan Akhtar and Imtiaz Ali were present to interact with the audience as their films were screened. The shows were sold out. For the audience,the meeting with these young directors was not the only draw. They also wanted to soak in BIG Cinema’s swish ambience. Dhingra hopes that more crowds troop in regularly from Powai,Mulund,Chembur and Vikhroli to this movie destination.

As one enters the multiplex on the third floor of the mall,it resembles a swish sci-fi set with ivory walls. Apart from the booking counters,what grab attention are the tables laid out by

Aromas for those who want to savour a cup of coffee—irrespective of whether they will go for a film. Of course,for those keen on hanging out,BIG Cinema has a nicely designed lounge with several cubicles,to ensure that the visiting groups enjoy some exclusive space. For the hassled moms’ benefit,there is a circular crèche—Mischief—where kids can play videogames,watch films or read. The moms,however,have to loosen their purse as it charges Rs 50 per 45 minutes.

The 75,000 square feet area also houses a cosy restaurant,called Pause,with very comfy couches and ceiling that resemble a starlit sky. For those,who take food as seriously as their regular dose of cinema,there is Cinediner. There,visitors can plonk themselves on sofas and dig into sumptuous food as action unspools on the big screen. Apart from these,there is a 48-seater ‘180 Degree’—named after the luxurious sofas that recline to a 180 degree angle. If you don’t want to shell out Rs 500 per seat here,the soft rocking seats in its seven regular screens are a good option. “With so much space available to us,we wanted to offer something to everybody. After all,it’s different groups that makes an entertainment destination work,” says Archana Jhangiani,head of BIG Cinema’s design studio.