Cinema is a culture that has established an inextricable
grip over the Indian junta. And Chennai is a case in point. The skyline of the
city is a billboard dedicated to the film industry. Advertisements of the
latest celluloid fiction churned out by the numerous film studios in the city,
and larger than life cut-outs of popular, thus bankable, matinee idols are what
decorate the streets of Chennai. In fact, the size of the cut-outs is
considered directly proportional to the popularity of the star.
It is thus justified that there are about 32 cinema halls in
the 174 sq. km. city, catering to the 6.4 million fantasy-philic residents.
Sathyam Cinemas, a 6-screen multiplex with a seating
capacity of 2,942 located in Royapettah, is cited to be the most frequented
cinema hall in Chennai. Sathyam boasts of being the only theatre in the country
whose projection systems include 2 D-dimensional projectors. Located off
Chennai's arterial Mount Road, this cinema hall is a frequented by the students
of the numerous IIT colleges situated close-by. The residents and the
work-force of the region are also found seeking respite at Sathyam.
However the luxurious seating and the state-of-the-art
audio-visual technology employed are not the only attractions of the
auditorium. Programs that allow movie buffs to interact with their demi-god
actors, and with those who pull the strings behind the screen, are regularly
conducted. Lectures, demonstrations and film festivals for the hearing impaired
are also frequently conducted, which endears Sathyam to a wide range of film
connoisseurs and students pursuing cinema as a career.
Ega Theatre is a pocket-friendly multiplex that is located
in the buzzing commercial district of Kilpauk in the western outskirts of the
city. The medical and IT educational institutions located in the suburbs of
Kilpauk compete with this cinema hall to capture the fleeting interest of young
minds. Comfortable seating arrangements, and commendable audio-visual quality
keep the ticketing systems functioning.
Ega Theatre houses Mini Ega, a theatre that mimics Ega in
every aspect excepting the auditorium's dimensions. Mini Ega is where one can
catch a movie that was removed from Ega to make space for the latest film
released.
With 14-screens in its complex, Mayajaal Cinemas located in
Kodambakkam is among the largest multiplexes in India. Mayajaal Cinemas is a
part of a themed family entertainment project that includes bowling alleys,
pool tables, video game arcades, delectable food stalls and shopping stores.
Though the exterior design and the logo give the complex the appearance of a
water-themed park, upon entering, one finds that the theatre boasts of plush
seating and utilizes superior audio-visual technology to give its customers an
unforgettable movie experience.
INOX Chennai, situated on the 3rd floor of Chennai City
Centre in Mylapore, is the 13th of the 38 multiplexes across the country
managed by INOX. At a modest Rs. 120, one can watch multi-lingual movies on its
4 screens with state-of-the-art projections system and acoustics transporting
the viewers to worlds of fantasy, seated on stadium-style high-backed seats
with cup holder armrests. INOX prides itself in being one of the most favored
venues for watching movies in Chennai and boasts of maintaining commendable
service standards and a flawless e-ticketing system.
Tamil films are among the few Indian language films to have
a huge fan base within and without India. Tamil films are distributed to
overseas theatres in Asia, Africa, North America, Australia and western Europe.
If the magnanimity of the Tamil cinema audience is anything to go by, the
cinema halls business in the city will prove to a mushrooming enterpris
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