The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Good service order of the day at Sathyam Cinemas

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 08, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Good service order of the day at Sathyam Cinemas

Susan Muthalaly

COO Ngaronga fronting a host of changes at SC

Sathyam Cinemas COO Tan Ngaronga

CHENNAI: The next time you are at the Sathyam Cinemas (SC) window to pick up your ticket, take time to admire the nails of the person attending to you.

Manicured nails, trimmed mustachios and lots of deodorant are part of the new spiffy image of the SC staff.

Chief Operating Officer Tan Ngaronga says good service is the best they can give their customers, and he wants them looking sharp before the descent of the other multiplex brigades (INOX and PVR Cinemas) on the city.

Staff screenings planned

"At the end of the day, service is very simple. It is about being polite and having information," he points out. So, the staff will be monitored by their new HR head, S. Vasudevan. SC is planning staff screenings so that the employees stay on top of things in the film world and also get their share of entertainment.

Mr. Ngaronga heads the new team at SC, and will be in charge of the day-to-day affairs at the company. Two months into the job and this New Zealander is fronting a host of changes. He has 13 years experience in operating multiplex cinemas in different parts of the world, and comes here from Village Cinemas, Australia.

Building makeover

The current SC building will be undergoing a major makeover in the next few months. Starting with Subham, he says, "We want a stadium effect, like in Six Degrees (the newest hall in the SC complex)."

The food stalls will be stocked with fluffy pastries, chocolate ganache and cakes, freshly prepared under the hawk-eyes of the new executive pastry chef, Mickael Besse.

And, in keeping with the entertainment theme, the fourth, fifth and sixth floors will offer more activities for families (plans are currently under wraps).

Mr. Ngaronga says that finding parking space will be a priority, and that they are currently considering a few options around their immediate facility, which has provision for 300 cars at present.

SC will also be expanding to two more venues. The flagship multiplex, with 9-10 screens, will be at the new mall coming up at Express Estates on Club House Road. Another one will be located on Poonamallee High Road.

The company has expansion plans in other parts of south India, but will remain a Chennai-based operation, says Mr. Ngaronga.

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