A multiplex in all cities

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.

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. 8220;We are coming up with nine multiplexes across India,8221; 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. 8220;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,8221; he adds.

PVR has come up with low-cost multiplexes in Aurangabad and Latur. 8220;Tickets in these multiplexes will be priced between Rs 40-60,8221; says Ashish Saksena, COO, PVR Mumbai. By 2009-end, Cinemax hopes to set up 141 screens across India.

8220;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,8221; 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. 8220;We are looking at 100 growth,8221; 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.

8220;2006 has been good not only for exhibitors but for producers also,8221; says Dingra of Adlabs Cinemas. Says Tandon of Inox, 8220;The total turnover in the year 2005 was Rs 63.7 crore and in 2006, we had crossed that mark by September.8221; 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.

What8217;s the buzz in 2007? Says Dingra of Adlabs Cinemas, 8220;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 8211; this will help combat piracy.8221; Multiplexes are already exploring new ways of attracting audiences. Fame Adlabs has come up with digital cinema in one of its multiplexes in Malad.