Multiplexes, declining footfall turn villains for small cinemas
Rising business costs, decline in viewership, and fewer hit films have affected single-screen cinemas, especially in cities. To put things in perspective, PVR INOX, the largest multiplex chain in India, has 42 screens across Kerala. Mexico-based international cinema chain Cinepolis has 11 screens in Kochi, including three VIP screens.
According to Liberty Basheer, film producer and chairman of the Kerala Film Exhibitors Federation, these multiplexes are now focusing on Kerala because the state has better films compared to other states.
'People in Kerala accept and watch movies of all languages. Also, these multiplexes can collect a larger amount as ticket fare as there is no limit on ticket prices in the state,' Basheer tells TNIE.
The Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC) also has as many as 17 screens in six districts.
'Work is on to launch nine more screens, three in Kayalam (Kozhikode) and two each in Payyannur (Kannur), Alakappa Nagar (Thrissur), and Vaikom (Kottayam). The new screens will be opened in six to seven months,' says an official with KSFDC.
K Vijayakumar, president of the Film Exhibitors United Organisation of Kerala (FEUOK), points out that the number of screens is increasing but the number of cinemagoers is not.
'The growth of multiplexes has been affecting single-screen cinemas. People go to a cinema only if the film is good. In the case of multiplexes, more often than not, people watch a film while visiting a mall for shopping or other purposes. Small cinemas don't have such an option to offer,' he says, adding that the trend has affected cinemas in Kochi, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram more.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
20 minutes ago
- India Today
Singer Kailash Kher reacts to shooting at Kapil Sharma's Canada cafe
Singer Kailash Kher has reacted to the recent shooting incident at comedian Kapil Sharma's newly opened cafe in Surrey, Canada, stating that he is not fully aware of the details and will comment further once he has more clarity on the to IANS, Kher said, 'I'm not aware of that incident yet. Once I know more, I'll speak." Following the shooting at Kapil Sharma's newly launched restaurant, security measures have been tightened outside his residence in assailants opened fire on the premises housing Kapil Sharma's cafe, Kap's Cafe, on July 10. A day later, Mumbai Police personnel were seen at the actor and comedian's home in the Oshiwara locality in Mumbai. The establishment, which was recently inaugurated, has gained attention online with viral images. The attackers reportedly arrived in a vehicle and fled shortly after the shots were fired. Fortunately, no injuries were terrorist Harjeet Singh Laddi has claimed responsibility for the attack. The shooting occurred at approximately 2:00 am local time on July 10, at the cafe situated in the 8400 block of 120th Street, the aftermath of the recent shooting incident at Kapil Sharma's caf in Surrey, Canada, the establishment's management expressed anguish in a statement shared via Instagram Stories.'We opened Kap's Cafe with hopes of bringing warmth, community, and joy through delicious coffee and friendly conversation. To have violence intersect with that dream is heartbreaking. We are processing this shock, but we are not giving up.'Who Is Harjeet Singh Laddi?Harjeet Singh Laddi, a Canada-based Khalistani terrorist, has emerged as a key figure in the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) probe into extremist activities targeting Indian interests. A most-wanted fugitive, Laddi is linked to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), one of the oldest and most organised Khalistani outfits banned under Indian to the NIA, Laddi is under surveillance for his alleged involvement in violent operations orchestrated from abroad. He is also the primary suspect in the assassination of Vikas Prabhakar, a senior leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), who was murdered in Nangal, Punjab, in June 2024. The agency's investigation has since uncovered a wider conspiracy implicating Laddi, Kulbir Singh alias Sidhu, and other operatives.- EndsMust Watch
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
Sixth edition of Kochi-Muziris Biennale titled ‘For the Time Being', to get under way on December 12
The sixth edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB), organised by the Kochi Biennale Foundation (KBF), will be titled 'For the Time Being.' Curated by artist Nikhil Chopra with HH Art Spaces, a Goa-based artist-led organisation, the biennale will run for 110 days, from December 12, 2025, through March 31, 2026. Curatorial framework The KBF also announced the curatorial framework for KMB '25. Alongside the international exhibition, the biennale will feature a diverse programme of talks, performances, workshops, and film screenings, unfolding across various sites in Kochi. Key programme verticals include the Students' Biennale, Invitations, Art By Children, the Residency Programme and the Collateral. The curatorial note by Nikhil Chopra states that the sixth edition of the KMB will embrace process as methodology and position 'friendship economies' as the very scaffolding of the exhibition. Moving away from the conventional biennale model of a singular, central exhibition event, the sixth edition is envisioned as a living ecosystem 'one where each element shares space, time, and resources, and grows in dialogue with each other,' a release issued here said. KBF Chair V. Venu said the biennale, over its past editions, has consistently risen in stature, attracting artworks from both celebrated and emerging talents from India and abroad. 'Organising such an event needs meticulous planning and strategies. We have introduced important organisational changes in the Kochi Biennale Foundation and we are confident to make a grand success of the sixth edition of the biennale. For both commoners and connoisseurs, it will offer a dynamic experience,' he was quoted as saying in the release. Bose Krishnamachari, president of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, said that Nikhil Chopra's emphasis on durational exhibitions and performances will be a highlight of the sixth edition. 'Those visiting the biennale will be introduced to an immersive atmosphere, featuring spectacular artworks and site-responsive installations. The event will also offer abundant opportunities to engage with artists and fellow art enthusiasts, and witness the layered cultural life of Kochi, a city where global and local currents converge and diverge all at once,' he said.
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
This Dubai Restaurant Is Going To Be Led By An AI Chef Named "Aiman"
In September this year, downtown Dubai is set to welcome WOOHOO, a trailblazing AI-powered restaurant. It has made headlines already for being the world's first restaurant to be fully conceptualised by an artificial intelligence chef. This unique kitchen leader has been named Aiman (a combination of the words "AI" and "man"). While human chefs go through rigorous training, Aiman has been put through rigorous culinary programming focused on global cuisines, food science, and molecular gastronomy. To be clear, Aiman is not actually going to wield a pan or saute ingredients. Rather, its job is to come up with ideas, deconstruct dishes into data points, and craft recipes that push boundaries. Human chefs handle the execution, but Aiman writes the playbook. Also Read: Who (Or What) Is Chef Aiman? Chef Aiman is an AI-powered culinary intelligence system created by Gastronaut, a tech-food company. It's designed to be like a chef's mind, not hands. It will offer original dish ideas, techniques, and plating concepts based on a deep training in food data. Chef Aiman already has a social media page. Its Instagram bio reads, "The world's first and only AI chef." The page is full of human-like posts and reels. The AI avatar of this chef shares recipes, snippets from 'podcast' appearances and other updates. View this post on Instagram A post shared by CHEF AIMAN (@ How Does Chef Aiman Work? Chef Aiman uses machine learning to analyse and remix flavour profiles, ingredients, cooking methods, and plating aesthetics. As per its developers, Aiman divides food into categories like sweetness, acidity, umami, texture, and temperature, and reconstructs them into novel recipes. Human chefs execute its vision, taste-test, and give feedback, refining Aiman's understanding in real time. Dubai-based celebrity chef Reif Othman leads the human kitchen team. His crew prepares dishes suggested by Aiman and provides essential human insight. Also Read: More About The World's First Restaurant With An AI Chef WOOHOO is slated to open at a location not far from the iconic Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The space is envisioned as a high-tech dining destination with a cyberpunk vibe. AI-assisted cocktail pairings are also expected. AI will be used for the ambience and service, too. Can An AI Chef Truly Help Restaurants? The goal here is to combine human intuition with algorithmic intelligence. "Human cooking will not be replaced, but we believe (Aiman) will elevate the ideas, creativity," said Oytun Cakir, the chief executive of hospitality company Gastronaut, as quoted by Reuters. He added that Aiman can help develop recipes that re-use ingredients often discarded by restaurants, like meat trimmings or fat. Thus, by using the full potential of each ingredient, it aims to promote zero-waste cooking. Gastronaut reportedly plans to license Aiman globally to boost its presence and use. Dubai has long been a land of firsts. With Aiman, it seems it's all set to now it's cook up a new kind of future for gastronomy. What will this mean for human chefs and their human customers? We'll have to wait and see.
