Laser lights dance fitfully on the road, clamber over people, and fly around like specks of dust. Narasingapuram Street — a part of what is known as the Ritchie Street electronics market — is alight with such drama, as shoppers bustle about in search of gadgets. On for a month, this laser display is expected to last up to January.
These colourful lights, which trace the shapes of flamingos, stars, disco dancers and a jumble of other things, are being radiated by laser projectors sitting on the display shelves at a small number of shops. These projectors, which come in various sizes and prices, signify a seasonal business. “They are sold from November to January, because that is when they are in high demand. The majority of laser projectors on display are meant for parties and festivities at home. The season being packed with festivals, they sell now. Around this time last year, traders stocked their projectors but it only this year they have woken up to the advantage of displaying them in an inviting manner.”
Traders say laser projectors can run into lakhs of rupees, but the vast chunk of the stock at Ritchie Street fits into the Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 15,000 price range and are primarily aimed at individuals looking to add colour to house parties. “The number of designs, brightness and power of the laserlight vary according to the prices,” says Amit. “A buyer may choose projectors with designs that go with his events. Depending on his choice, a projector can be used either in a disco or in a temple,” he adds. Another trader, who wishes to remain unnamed, says those with higher price tags offer USB facility too.
While some make their choice on the basis of designs and extra features, those clued into the dynamics of laser projectors look for factors such as wattage. “Here, in the market, projectors range from 8 milliwatts to 500 milliwatts,” says N. Chandrasekar, Amit’s partner.
Another important fact to bear in mind: these projectors don’t come with a guarantee.
