The spanking new concept of mini digital theatres will be a reality soon in the capital region of Andhra Pradesh.
Lack of quality cinema theatres in semi-urban and rural pockets here came handy for Y. Screens Entertainment India Ltd., a recently-floated firm that is almost done with its first twin mini digital theatres or miniplexes on the premises of the APSRTC’s Pandit Nehru Bus Station (PNBS) in Vijayawada. APSRTC Regional Manager P. Rama Rao says the two mini theatres will be ready in 15 days.
Y.V. Ratna Kumar, Chairman and Managing Director of Y Screens, said this was just the beginning as he had plans to introduce 1,000 such screens in 670 mandals across the State. He called his venture a social entrepreneurship “as it will create a new business model to serve the rural sector. The project will generate at least 30,000 jobs in the rural sector. Moreover, the idea is to effectively check migration of workers from villages to cities.”
“My company will bring a paradigm shift in entertainment industry as we intend to set up these mini theatres in every corner of the State,” he said, adding that the next prototype would come up at Gudlavalleru.
The company is also setting up a business incubator in Vijayawada city which will be called ‘Y Square’.
“The bigger plan is to elevate the local entrepreneur and develop intellectual property for future. We want to prepare an army of young innovators who will be the ‘digital integrators’ set on the task of integrating entertainment, education and empowerment,” Mr. Ratna Kumar told The Hindu .
The mini theatres at PNBS are developed in an area of 400 square feet and each one is 130-seater. Using 3d technology and satellite-based screening, the new facility will include attached food courts. “We will not compromise on quality, be it ambience, seating facility, sound system, digital screens, food hygiene or cleanliness of toilets,” said Mr. Ratna Kumar.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is scheduled to inaugurate the theatres in the second week of May.
