After 30 long years, people in the Valley will be able to have a cinema experience again with the first multiplex coming up in Sonwar area of district Srinagar.
The multiplex is the collaborative project of Dhar family and INOX, one of the top film distributors and film exhibitors in the country. The multiplex will be opened for the public in September this year.
Vijay Dhar, an educationist said the idea of reviving the cinema in Kashmir is to give younger generations the same entertainment that anyone is having in the country. “This is for everybody so that everyone enjoys the entertainment. Our youth should be happy. They also need to scream and shout. Except sports and food, there is no place where one can get a dose of entertainment,” he said.
The multiplex designed by INOX will have 3 auditoriums and a seating capacity of 520 people. It has Dolby sound systems installed for better experience. The facilities include all the imported objects that are standardized by INOX all over the country. However, a tinge of Kashmiri culture will be seen in terms of paper mache and khatamband ceiling. Also, there will be food courts for promoting the local food.
“We are changing the design element a little bit and adding the Kashmiri touch in it with state-of-the-art infrastructure. We are also hoping to promote local food entrepreneurs and give them space so that our local food will be promoted.
“We will be hiring local talent who can manage the place. We should promote our own brand. There can’t be a better brand than Kashmir in the whole world,” said Vikas Dhar, son of Vijay Dhar.
Soon people will be able to watch 3D movies also on the screen. The multiplex will have 3 screens of which 2 will start initially.
“The Indian film industry and Bollywood particularly has a heart-to-heart connection with Kashmir. We will be able to bridge that gap so that connection will be revived. The feeling of sitting in a cinema hall and letting go of your fears and tensions is unique. We would love for that freedom to come back,” he added.
He further said that the Central and UT governments have been extremely cooperative for the project to come up.
The father-son duo is also coming up with another project that is a fun zone facility in Kashmir for people from 2-year-old onwards. In the project, various gaming facilities including video games and bowling alleys will be there. The project is in the design stage yet.
