By the end of 2007, there will be almost 50 multiplexes in Tier-II and Tier-III cities in India. In 2005, the top multiplexes had only 200 screens. In 2006, the number of screens had doubled to 400. All players have major expansion plans. “We are coming up with nine multiplexes across India,” says Shravan Shroff, MD, Shringar Cinemas (Fame Adlabs). Fame plans to come up with 34 screens across Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Kolkata, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and Patiala. “The one in Kolkata is the most expensive as far as investment is concerned. We are coming up with 1,500 seats there and have invested Rs 90,000-95,000 per seat,” he adds. PVR has come up with low-cost multiplexes in Aurangabad and Latur. “Tickets in these multiplexes will be priced between Rs 40-60,” says Ashish Saksena, COO, PVR Mumbai. By 2009-end, Cinemax hopes to set up 141 screens across India. “2007 will see a lot of retail outlets coming up. There are about 200-250 malls coming up and all of them will have a multiplex. Even smaller cities will have multiplexes,” says Alok Tandon, COO, Inox, Mumbai. Inox will make its presence felt in Jodhpur, Nagpur, Faridabad and Hyderabad to name a few while Imax is looking at cities like Kanpur, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Surat and Agra. “We are looking at 100% growth,” says Tushar Dingra, COO, Adlabs Cinemas. Experts believe that this upward swing is due to improved quality of content. The year 2006 witnessed a slew of hits. This year is expected to be even bigger. With movies like Salaam-E-Ishq, Eklavya, RGV Ke Sholay, Nishabd, a sequel to Ghayal, Drona and seven YashRaj films slated for release, industry players are keeping their fingers crossed. “2006 has been good not only for exhibitors but for producers also,” says Dingra of Adlabs Cinemas. Says Tandon of Inox, “The total turnover in the year 2005 was Rs 63.7 crore and in 2006, we had crossed that mark by September.” The exhibition industry in India is being pegged at Rs 1,000 crore and six players dominate the market. The growth rate expected in the coming years is 35-40 %. But players are quick to add that India is highly under-screened. In France, there are 75 screens for a population of 10 lakh, in the US 102 screens, in the UK 35-40 screens, but in India there are only six to eight screens for the same population. There is, therefore, a lot of scope for growth. What’s the buzz in 2007? Says Dingra of Adlabs Cinemas, “This year will see more evolved cinema. New formats and new technology will be brought in and an effort will be made to reach out to new cities – this will help combat piracy.” Multiplexes are already exploring new ways of attracting audiences. Fame Adlabs has come up with digital cinema in one of its multiplexes in Malad.
