Kashmir Is Ready To Have Its First Multiplex And It's All Geared Up For Coldest Weather Conditions

As Kashmir is all set to welcome its firstmultiplex cinema after three decades in September in Srinagar city. But wait, winters is coming.

The winters in the valley are harsh withthe temperature going down up to minus 10 degree Celsius and Srinagar witnessinga heavy snowfall. But this would not deter the confidence of the cinema owners tonot screen the films in cold weather conditions.

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“The multiplex cinema will be functionalin winters too. We have set up central heating system and cooling arrangements tooin the hall,” said Vijay Dhar, the owner of the cinema hall.

In 1990s, when cinemas were functional inKashmir, there used to be no heating arrangement system in the hall. Peoplewould close the door till movie ends and it would warm the hall automatically.

INOX designed cinema

The Srinagar’s Dhar family and INOX, one of the major film distributors and theatre chains, worked together to create the multiplex.

The multiplex has three movie theatreswith a combined seating capacity of at least 520 people and each being lashedwith the latest sound systems and comfortable seating facilities.

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“We are all set to inaugurate the twohalls in September and one will be opened later,” Dhar told Indiatimeswithout revealing the exact dates.

When asked about the aim of starting thismultiplex, Dhar said that youth in Kashmir too want entertainment.

“Why would our youth go to Delhi or Mumbaito watch a Bollywood in cinema. Why can’t we have our own halls. They have beenwatching the films on TV or mobile phones,” Dhar said.

The mode of buying the ticket will be bothonline and offline. Three different movies will be screened at a time in thehalls.

Promoting Kashmiri culture too

Dhar said that the design of the multiplex will have a tinge of Kashmiri culture in the form of a paper-mache and khatamband ceiling.

He said that the local cuisine will alsobe promoted through food courts.

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“We are slightly modifying the designelement and incorporating a Kashmiri touch along with cutting-edgeinfrastructure. In order to increase the popularity of our local cuisine, wealso hope to support and encourage local food entrepreneurs,” he said.

He said that the multiplex will also generate the employment opportunities for the local youth.??

A good move

Mushtaaque Ali Ahmad Khan, a theatre artistand festival director called the ‘multiplex in Kashmir’ a need of the hour.

Kashmir World Film Festival

“During my four editions of the filmfestival in Srinagar, we screened more than 150 films. But that’s not enough, Ibelieve that multiplex is important for Kashmir especially for the youth,” saidKhan who holds a film festival bi-annually in Srinagar called Kashmir WorldFilm Festival (KWFF).

“I congratulate the owners for taking thisinitiative and I hope that government will extend its support to open more multiplexesin the valley,” he said.

Security could be a challenge

Tahir Najar, a Kashmiri theatre artisttold Indiatimes that security issue could be challenge.

“Once this multiplex is opened to moviegoers, I think security arrangements need to be checked well or beefed up nearthe cinema hall so as to ensure the safety of everyone visiting there,” hesaid.

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When asked Dhar about security concernsahead of opening of his cinema hall, he said, “When you do the things from the heart,you don’t think too much then.”

However, Srinagar Police chief RakeshBalwal said that all the security arrangements will be taken care of.

Cinema back after three decades

The cinema hall is being set up in thevalley after a gap of 32-years. The theatres had shut in 1990s due to the risein militancy.

There were a total of 15 functional cinemahalls in the valley in the 1980’s, of which nine were in Srinagar. The mostfamous cinemas were Broadway Cinema, Regal Cinema, Neelam Cinema, and PalladiumCinema in Srinagar.

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Now, most of the theatres have turned intocamps for security forces, while others have been turned into hotels, shoppingcomplexes and even a hospital.?

The former J&K chief minister FarooqAbdullah government in 1999 tried to reopen cinema halls when the Regal, Neelamand Broadway were allowed to start filming movies. But there was a militantattack during the first show in the Regal cinema, killing one person andinjuring 12 others.

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