JOIN USNow, 3D films form USP of multiplex in city
When the world’s first 3D film, from Hollywood, ‘House of Wax’ hit the screens 60 years ago, it did take the box office by a storm.
The City of Palaces, Mysore, also had the pride of screening the movie at an equally old Gayatri talkies on Chamaraja Double Road. Even after six decades of its birth, the films made using the cutting edge three dimensional technology are much in demand, especially at multiplexs.
Multiplex or multi-screens under one roof, popularly known as the new age screens, have been making ample use of the very technology to attract movie buffs. It wouldn’t be exaggeration to say films made using high-end technology are forming the USP of multiplexs. Going by the fad, of the two multiplexs in the city, DRC Cinemas in Jayalaskhmipuram has incorporated the technology for all its four screens, while Sathyam Cineplex on M G Road has upgraded technology for one, out of its four screens.
Chetan, the manager of DRC, told Deccan Herald, when the multiplex was opened in October 2011, only screen four, which has a seating capacity of 278, had the technology incorporated. Following the overwhelming response, screen one (seating - 266) was also brought under 3D with Kamal Hassan starrer ‘Vishwaroopam’ opening to houseful audience. Recently, two other screens — two and three (207 seats each) — boast of the same technology. Currently, ‘Captain America — the winter soldier’ and ‘Rio 2’ are being screened to an overwhelming response.
At Sathyam, screen one is equipped with the technology and ‘Captain...’ is being screened. Says its manager Satish, “In the coming days, there is great expectation on Spiderman, Kochaadiyan, Godzilla, etc”.
What it takes to adopt the technology is installing the 3D kit, changing the projector mode from 2D to 3D or vice-versa, thus completing the modification process.
M R Rajaram, the fourth generation film exhibitor, recalled the foray of the technology on silver screen. “‘House of Wax’ was screened in our theatre.
However, after that, owing to discussions about some health hazards, as it was debated worldwide that watching such movies is harmful to the eyes, it was banned. It was again during the 80s the ban was lifted and India’s first movie filmed in 3D format ‘Chota Chetan’ was produced. At this juncture, it was inevitable to bring back the lost audience to the theatres, as the television was holding the audience at home. The ban was reimposed, only to be lifted in 2006”, recalls Rajaram.
However, unlike in theatres, watching tech-loaded films in a multiplex comes at a cost with separate charges levied on the spectacles provided to the audience.
The tech-friendly screens (read multiplex) has eaten into 10 to 15 per cent audience share in the case of regional films (coming to theatres), while in the case of Hollywood and Bollywood movies, it is anywhere between 50 and 70 per cent.