Multiplex plan shelved - Minar-Bijoli-Chhabighar chain of cinemas to reopen

There were pans to convert the Minar-Bijoli-Chhabighar chain of cinemas in Kolkata into multiplexes and, that has apparently been shelved because of demonetization. In 2017, this chain of cinema halls is expected to reopen.
Minar and Bijoli theatres had downed shutters on July 1, along with Chhabighar - these will reopen next year in their original single-screen theatre format.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 21 December 2016.

The chain of cinemas had suffered losses and had plans to convert the cinema halls to two-screen multiplexes attached with shopping malls. But, after demonetization, those who were involved in building the malls went on the backfoot. The owner has decided to reopen the cinemas as they were.
Movie buffs of a certain age will recall that the Minar-Bijoli-Chhabighar chain meant watching first-day first-shows of Uttam-Suchitra blockbusters. Closure of these theatres had been a huge blow to them. Hence, news of their reopening means an ideal situation - blues of demonetization have become a blessing in disguise.
Haripriya Pal had built Chhabighar in 1930 and, later, added Bijoli in 1935 and Minar in 1942. The were single-screen halls and did good business. Bijoli could accommodate more than 900 viewers, while Minar and Chhabighar had a capacity of 850 plus and 670 viewers respectively.
If everything goes right, the halls will reopen in January.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Squirrels of Seattle, Boston and Toronto are stealing Christmas light bulbs

Petrol tanker crashes into other vehicles in Kenya - leaves at least 30 dead

Qantas to fly non-stop from Perth to London in 17 and a half hours


Moody and the half pant brigade (satire)

Lord Shiva cracks jokes and Durga fries samosas (satire)

Didi sharpens her weapons to conquer the Hindi belt (satire)


AR Rahman contender for Oscar nomination for Pele: Birth of a Legend

Julia Roberts of 'Pretty Woman' fame to star in her first TV series

Meryl Streep creates history with her 30th Golden Globes nomination


Suicide bomber kills at least 49 people in a military camp in Aden

US estimates that active ISIS fighters in Iraq and Syria have dropped considerably

Syrian forces shoot dead 82 Aleppo civilians in their homes

Summer sees high occupancy rates in Kanpur cinema halls

Summer in the city of Kanpur means intolerable heat and when the temperature soars to 40 degrees Celsius, it is time to find out some means to beat the heat. And, one of these is to lock oneself up in a air conditioned cinema hall for the afternoon shows. As a result, the occupancy rate has gone up to 70 per cent, even during week days. The multiplexes and cinema halls in the city are not complaining but are raking in the profits.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 8 April 2016.

As the manager of a multiplex has agreed - in these past few days the occupancy of their halls has increased substantially because many people are coming to watch movies and beat the heat. Almost 70 per cent of the hall is occupied the noon shows between 1.30 to 5 pm.
Another manager admitted that youngsters are spending afternoons watching movies and are visiting the multiplex at least twice or thrice a week to spend time at a place that is cool during the day. The occupancy that was just around 40-45 per cent in March has shot up to 75 per cent in the afternoons of April.
And this situation is not just for multiplexes but also single screen theatres in the city. Jagdish Kumar, manager at Sapna Palace, says, "Mostly it is students and youngsters who come for the afternoon shows watching a film in an air conditioned hall.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Didi rolls out the red carpet (satire)

Moody’s cleanliness drive - free soap for all children (satire)

Lord Shiva cannot relate to today’s Shivaratri (satire)


Teenage girl jumps off moving bus in Mehsana to avoid molestation

Transgender candidate to contest against Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal polls

Japan kills 333 whales in its latest Antarctic hunt - the figure was 252 whales in 2014


ISIS claims responsibility for Brussels attack and warns Britain of more severe attacks

Tragedy in chicken eating contest in Indonesia - a competitor chokes to death

Terror attack in Ankara kills at least 37 - one suicide bomber was a 22-year-old woman

Star Wars Episode VIII to get delayed till December 2017

Antonio Banderas gifted a pair of monkeys to Salma Hayek on her birthday

Frieda Pinto talks about 'Jungle Book - Origins'

Playing to the galleries backfires – Maharashtra reverses decision to screen only Marathi movies in prime time

#multiplex #ShobhaaDe #VinodTawde #primetimemovies #wadapau Maharashtra government had made it compulsory for all multiplexes to screen only Marathi movies in the 6-9pm prime time slot in all multiplexes – the decision was another instance of leaders playing to the galleries without bothering about the effect such decisions have on the agencies involved.
As expected, the decision has now been reversed as reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 10 April 2015.

Of course, whether it was because of the Tweets of Shobhaa De or a case of good sense prevailing in the end, the fact remains that the decision has been reversed and multiplex stakeholders can now breathe easy.
The decision has now been modified after two days of meetings with movie and multiplex stakeholders and the state government has now decided that mandatory Marathi movies show timing must be between noon and 9pm.
This has been announced by the cultural affairs minister Vinod Tawde – as per revised decision, Marathi movie producers can select a slot that best fits a film's theme. No screening before noon will count towards the mandatory 124 Marathi film shows a year for multiplexes.
The minister was probably not aware that regional movies need to be promoted but, in multiplexes, the prime time slots are usually reserved for movies of Bollywood or Hollywood that draw the crowds and, in turn, generate revenue for the stakeholders.
Incidentally, because of the initial decision, Shiv Sena workers had gathered to protest outside the residence of columnist Shobhaa De in Cuffe Parade. The protests were with vada pav and misal and was apparently connected to her tweets.

A few more must reads -

Nashik Kumbhmela 2015 – a once in 12-years pilgrimage

Trip to Nashik should take in Shirdi and the Ajanta and Ellora caves

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the epic Ramayana

Nashik, a tourist center with links to the Mahabharata

Kumbhmela 2015 in Nashik – guided tours to wineries and vineyards

Nashik transforms from a place of pilgrimage to an industrial hub


Pattern of death changing in India – heart and lung related diseases are top killers

Stray dogs attend funeral of Mexican woman who fed them

Nationwide ban on cow slaughter on the cards says Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh

Health tips – lose weight without dieting

Auckland girl sweet talks thief to return stolen mobile phone

Anchovies can boost good cholesterol and reduce risk factors of the heart