Experiencing cinemas of the highest quality has been a dream for cinema-goers of Kashmir, but now the wait is over for Kashmir’s much-awaited first multiplex to be thrown open to the public from September 24 onwards.
People of Jammu and Kashmir will now explore Indian cinemas in their towns, after a three-decade break, Kashmiri’s first multiplex was inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Sonwar, near Badami Bagh cantonment Srinagar on Tuesday.
On the opening day of the multiplex, a special screening of Amir Khan starrer ‘Lal Singh Chaddha’ was displayed to the audience.
Earlier LG Sinha inaugurated multipurpose cinema halls one each in the twin Pulwama and Shopian districts on Monday.
The UT got its first multiplex and cinema hall after three years of abrogation of article 370.
“Yesterday inaugurated Multipurpose Cinema Halls at Pulwama and Shopian. It offers facilities ranging from a movie screening, infotainment, and skilling of youth,” LG Sinha through his Twitter account.
The multiplex is designed by INOX in Srinagar. Three large auditoriums have been constructed in the multiplex with a seating capacity of 520 people at a time.
Cinema multiplex offers a first-of-its-kind movie-watching experience with a display of high-quality entertainment with sound systems DOLBY ATMOS.
Jammu and Kashmir’s popular arts for ceilings
The halls are well equipped with central heating to combat Kashmiri’s winters. A silver screen has been installed and recliner facilities are provided along with normal seating.
The themes of multiplex ceilings were designed with the Kashmiris arts of Khatamband woodwork and papier mache patterns.
During intermission, cinemagoers can get some sumptuous local cuisines available in the food court. Two screens will be opened to the public from September 24 onwards and the third screen will be available from October onwards, Vikas Dhar, owner of the multiplex said.
Security beefed up
Besides security provided by the government, Management also deployed private security personnel to safeguard the audience’s safety, Dhar said.
Jammu and Kashmir were a paradise for moviemakers, most of the films are shot here before the militancy took over the valley in the 1990s.
The locals of the valley are regular moviegoers in the past and anticipate peace and brotherhood to prevail in the valley like before, Dhar added.
In the 1980s, the extremist insurgency began in the valley, and with this, all theatres were shut down across the J&K.
In a decade, three single-screen theatres Regal, Neelam, and Broadway were opened. In the meantime, cinema halls are closed down after the bombing incident took place at Regal Cinemas.
