Best Movie Theatres in Chennai

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 enterprise, with better technologies being incorporated to cater to the demanding audiences.

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Best Movie Theatres in Kolkata

Indian metropolises always, as yet without exception, fall into the brackets of moderation. The cities strike an enviable balance between the past, present and the future, and have something for all, regardless of their social or economic background. And cinema halls, one of the few venues of entertainment that captures the interest of those who seek the comfort of a routine life, and cater to the insatiable demands of bouncing off the walls individuals, stand as the major attractions of any urban conglomerate. And Kolkata is no exception.

With the spending capacity of urban dwellers on an uphill road, the demand for luxurious entertainment has also been yanked onto the same street. Multiplexes fall smack-center in the middle of pampering recreation.

INOX, one of India's leading cinema hall chains, has set up 4 multiplexes to cater to Kolkatans, whose appetite for movies is equivalent to a bottomless well. INOX has strategically extended its reach over a better part of the sprawling city, with one multiplex each set up in Rajarhat, in Salt Lake City, on Elgin Road and in Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad Sarani. All the 4 multiplexes are a one-stop-shop package as they are located in premier malls in the city, giving them an edge over other multiplexes in the city.

Salt Lake City, a satellite city that houses a sizable chunk of Kolkata's IT industries, boasts of numerous multiplexes including RDB Big Cinemas and 89 Cinemas. 89 Cinemas comprises 4 auditoriums that are equipped with Dolby Digital sound systems, a cine club, a gaming arcade and restaurants. Adding to the appeal of the place is the ample parking space available, and the online and tele-ticketing systems ensure a hassle free booking procedure. This multiplex is also known as 89 Cinemas, Swabhumi.

Encouraged by the success story scripted by 89 Cinemas, Swabhumi, the franchisor launched another multiplex named Dreamplex in City Center, Durgapur. Dreamplex is home to 3 screens and modern amenities that have movie buffs frequenting it.

Globe Cinema, situated on Lindsay street, is one of the most popular venues for catching movies in Kolkata. Situated alongside the bustling streets of the New Market that are trodden by those with an open wallet, Globe Cinema offers respite to hoarse shoppers and worn out wallets. With 4 screens on which fiction is illustrated to the accompaniment of the audio blaring from powerful systems, a bar and a restaurant, the multiplex caters to all sections of the society.

Esplanade, the commercial hub of the city, is where Metro Cinema, a popular haunt of Kolkatans, is situated. The multiplex is reputed for screening the latest releases and blockbusters. The eateries, restaurants and shops dotting the region surrounding the cinema hall add to the allure of the theatre.

Embracing the multiplex culture, Lighthouse Cinema - one of cities oldest cinemas - was revamped in 2002. What was once a huge auditorium with a seating capacity of 1,200, was, lo and behold, transformed into a 2-tier multiplex a superior screen and a food court on the 1st floor, and a bowling alley and an ice-skating rink on the ground floor.

Listed above are but a fraction of the 30-odd Kolkata cinema halls that cater to the insatiable Kolkatan demand for fantasy. With the managements of talkies waking up to the benefits of multiplexes, one may expect to witness the mushrooming of the industry in the near future.

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