The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Growth of multiplexes inevitable

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 27, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Growth of multiplexes inevitable

The hep people need a place where they can watch films and hang out. Multiplexes are emerging as the hangout spots. Those who want to watch films in clean and comfortable surroundings do not care for the price of the ticket, say our readers. The message for the owners of old cinemas is clear: renovate or perish.

COMFORT ZONE: The waiting lounge at a multiplex in Bangalore. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

High price

Cinemas had their own charm, never mind stale popcorn and torn seat covers. As all things, they too have to make way for the new, in this case modern multiplexes.

My only grouse against the multi-screen cinemas is the high price of tickets.

Hopefully, with more competition, the rates will come down. For film producers, it should be easy enough to claim their investment fast.

V. Krishnakumar,

R.T. Nagar.

Comfortable, clean

The multiplexes are obviously beyond the reach of many because of the high price of tickets. Can the film industry survive by only catering to the rich?

That aside, multiplexes provide a high comfort level and are clean.

There is really no point in comparing old cinemas and the new ones.

D.S. Manjunath,

Lingarjapuram.

Luxurious ambience

Movies have long been mass entertainment and recently, Bollywood has been breaking out of that mould. Gandhinagar and Kodambakam may follow suit.

For the kind of rather unusual films that are being made now and their target audience, the spanking new multiplexes may be the ideal venue.

If the seats are costly, the ambience is luxurious too.

Latha Venkatesh,

Malleswaram.

Counter CD menace

If multiplexes can revive the habit of going to the movies instead of hiring CDs or DVDs, it should do the film industry a lot of good.

The tickets have to be priced more reasonably. Some multiplexes are doing that for some shows and certain films.

As to multiplexes being expensive, so are other forms of entertainment.

Cable TV to is set to become costlier with CAS and set top boxes coming.

M. Faziuddin,

Shivajinagar.

Cinemas will survive

The poor man's entertainment is going to the upper crust via multiplexes.

Even in the past, cinemas screening Hollywood hits used to have a higher price for tickets.

There is a case for some of the older cinemas showing Indian language films, especially Kannada films, to survive.

They are within the reach of the majority of filmgoers.

S. Prakash,

Wheeler Road.

For high-income families

The increasing spending power of the new middle and upper income families needs avenues.

Multiplexes are one among them as are expensive restaurants and shops selling clothing of international designers.

With time and competition, one hopes the multiplexes will become more affordable.

It is strange that a few "tent cinemas" still survive on the outskirts of cities.

Susheela Oommen,

Indiranagar.

Pay for comfort

We cannot be mourning the disappearance of old cinemas; many were getting really shabby and worn down and none too clean.

Many never bothered to switch on the air conditioner even in summer.

For the relative comforts and cleanliness in multiplexes, one has to be prepared to pay more.

Nothing good comes cheap.

K. Mohan Ram,

Basavanagudi.

Attract people

If the multiplexes can draw people back to cinemas, the film industry will be happy.

The industry is just coming out of a slump and trying to capture audiences by more imaginative themes.

The time may come when the cinemas screen only "masala" films and others try to mix good films with the run-of-the-mill ones. When this happens, multiplexes may well be the only way out for the producers.

Joshua S.,

Langford Road

Ideal for good films

I am sure some of the old cinemas will refurbish and continue to survive the onslaught of newer multiplexes. For those with higher disposable income — their numbers are growing — multiplexes are ideal for watching a good movie. Old halls will have to get more competitive if they are not to fade away.

Janani Sreedhar,

Jayanagar.

Aim for novelty

One doubts if multi-screen cinema complexes alone can revive the fortunes of an ailing film industry.

Films will become popular if they come out of clichés and formulas and present something novel.

For the kind of comforts and atmosphere they offer, multiplexes will charge more. Karen Anand,

Austin Town.

NEXT WEEK: While distance learning and the concept of working-and-learning are accepted in the West, employers in our country are wary of degrees got through distance education courses. Is this distrust justified and does it not discourage ambitious but not wealthy people from pursuing their career and educational objectives? Readers are invited to send their views to The Hindu, No. 19 and 21, Bhagwan Mahaveer Road, Bangalore 560001 or email bglreflections @thehindu.co.in

R.T. Nagar.

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