Chennai Corporation’s proposed low-cost theatres, which it has branded as Amma theatres, may provide succour to several film producers who have been struggling to get their work released.
At this point, more than 400 Tamil films, cleared by the censor board, are unable to find a release in the commercial theatre circuit.
On Wednesday, at a meeting to finalise the first list of locations to commission Amma theatres, the civic body decided to adopt a model to support filmmakers who are struggling to release their films.
A group of officials visited sites owned by the Corporation to finalise the locations of the theatres.
They will be commissioned on plots along New Avadi Road, Velachery-Tambaram Road-Radial Road junction, Turnbulls Road and near Mint Bridge by May 2015. Amma theatres in land owned by other departments will be commissioned in Neithal Nagar in Thiruvottiyur, Manali Bus Stand, Padi, Nesapakkam, Saidapet and Sholinganallur after obtaining clearance from the Tamil Nadu Housing Board, revenue department and the highways.
Each multiplex will have three to ten screens. Networking technology in Amma theatres will be designed to accommodate state-of-the-art digital projectors. “Watching a movie in an Amma theatre will be cheaper than buying a pirated DVD,” said an official.
While the facilities will add to the dwindling number of theatres in the city, it is unclear as to how it will benefit filmmakers and producers. The sheer economics of scale would be a challenge, industry watchers said.
