Latest news with #PVRCinemas
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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
PVR INOX narrows Q1 loss to ₹54 crore on strong lineup, cost control
PVR INOX, India's largest cinema exhibitor, has focused on tighter control over its operating costs through reduction in its electricity and marketing expenses to narrow down its losses. This was also helped by a strong lineup of movies from Hollywood and Bollywood in the first quarter of 2025-26 (Q1FY26). 'We have to have our eye on the ball as far as cost-cutting is concerned,' Ajay Bijli, founder of PVR Cinemas and managing director (MD) of PVR INOX, told Business Standard in an interview. 'On our comparable properties, there has been a marginal increase in manpower, our electricity costs have gone down along with marketing and rent expenditure (in Q1FY26 on a year-on-year or Y-o-Y basis). It is an extremely important part of our strategy to not just rely on movies and improve our revenues but also keep an eye on the cost.' PVR INOX's consolidated net loss narrowed down to ₹54 crore in Q1FY26 on a Y-o-Y basis. The company's revenue from operations rose by 23.38 per cent to ₹1,469.1 crore during the quarter compared with Q1FY25. Its other income increased by 12.89 per cent Y-o-Y to ₹32.4 crore. In the earnings call, an executive of the company said that PVR INOX was able to control electricity consumption by air-conditioning utilities based on the occupancy levels within the cinema halls. It has also deployed solar panels in the cinema, which have reduced its dependence on grid electricity. PVR INOX's profit before depreciation, interest, and taxes (PBDIT) rose by 53.32 per cent to ₹429.6 crore in Q1FY26 compared with the same quarter last year. In Q1FY26, a total of 10 films crossed the ₹100 crore mark, and three crossed the ₹200 crore mark. Bollywood box office collections of PVR INOX surged by 38 per cent in the quarter on a Y-o-Y basis, fuelled by films like Ajay Devgn's Raid 2, Aamir Khan's Sitaare Zameen Par, Kesari Chapter 2, Housefull 5, and Jaat, its earnings release stated. Similarly, with back-to-back major releases from Hollywood like Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Final Destination Bloodlines, From the World of John Wick: Ballerina and F1, PVR INOX saw 20 per cent rise in admissions during the quarter on a Y-o-Y basis for its premium and experiential formats like IMAX and 4DX. Bijli noted that the momentum in the industry is back, both from the filmmakers' side and the consumers' side, for watching movies on the big screen. 'Things are only going to get better from here. In July, despite the nail-biting (cricket) Test series between India and England, people came and watched movies like Jurassic World Rebirth, Superman, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. There's also an amazing amount of traction that we are seeing for the August 15 weekend, when movies like War 2 and Coolie will be releasing,' he said. The company observed 34 million admissions during the quarter, up by 12 per cent on a Y-o-Y basis. It recorded its highest-ever food and beverage spend per head, which rose 10 per cent to ₹148, according to the release. PVR INOX opened 20 new screens in Q1FY26 and plans to open 100 new screens this year, Bijli added.
Pink Villa
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Parineeta Re-Release Date: Vidya Balan and Saif Ali Khan's movie to arrive in cinemas again in 8K restored version
Vidya Balan made her Bollywood debut with Parineeta, a musical romance released in 2005. The film, which was an adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's Bengali novella of the same name, also featured Saif Ali Khan and Sanjay Dutt. 20 years after its original release, the makers are bringing the classic to theaters again. Here's when and where you can watch Parineeta. Parineeta to re-release in PVR INOX on August 29 On Wednesday, the official Instagram account of PVR Cinemas announced the re-release of Parineeta. Their post features a poster of the Vidya Balan starrer that reads, 'The color, the music, the beauty, and the world of Parineeta, back on the big screen.' According to the post, Parineeta will be re-released in cinemas on August 29, 2025. It will be a limited one-week theatrical run at PVR Inox and also the first 8K restored classic in India, as per the shared post. 'She was poetry. He was fire. Together, they made magic. Experience Parineeta like never before — India's first 8K restored classic. Only for 1 week! #Parineeta re-releasing at PVR INOX on Aug 29!' the caption read. Vidhu Vinod Chopra calls Parineeta an 'emotion' Filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who worked as a producer in Parineeta, expressed his excitement over its re-release. Calling it an 'emotion', Chopra told Filmfare that its magic will deepen in the 8K version. Vidya Balan also described her feelings and called the film's re-release an 'emotional moment for her'. She expressed that every frame holds a piece of her heart, hoping that the new generation will discover old-world love through her movie. More about Parineeta Directed by then-debutante filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar, Parineeta was originally released in theaters on June 10, 2005. While Vidya Balan played the role of Lalitha, Saif Ali Khan was cast as Shekhar Rai. Sanjay Dutt essayed the role of Girish Sharma. It also featured actors like Raima Sen, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty, and Dia Mirza in supporting roles. Vidya Balan has completed 20 years in Bollywood. After making her debut, she worked in movies like Dirty Picture, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Heyy Babyy, and more.
News18
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Aamir Khan's Cinema-First Approach Gets A Shoutout From Subhash Ghai
Last Updated: The Sitaare Zameen Par actor stated that he would undoubtedly choose theatres if given the choice. Renowned Bollywood filmmaker Subhash Ghai has praised actor-producer Aamir Khan for his commitment to reviving Hindi cinema and preserving India's theatre culture. Ghai not only lauded Khan for his performance in a recently released blockbuster, Sitaare Zameen Par, but also appreciated his decision not to release the film to OTT platforms immediately. Taking to the photo-sharing app, Instagram, Ghai posted a picture of Khan and wrote, 'Dear Aamir, You have done it again to bring dignity to Hindi cinema with your heartwarming film in cinema halls and pledging not to show it on the small screen for six months." He further mentioned, 'I'm glad that all India exhibitors honoured you as a brave filmmaker yesterday for respecting the business of big-screen theatres too. Congratulations and blessings." Before concluding the post, Ghai also tagged major cinema chains, including Mukta A2 Cinemas, PVR Cinemas, INOX Movies, Cinepolis and Zee Cinema. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SG (@subhashghai1) Aamir Khan feels that the quality of Indian films hasn't improved in the previous three to four years and that the only way to boost sales is to avoid selling your movie to OTT platforms before six months have passed. The Sitaare Zameen Par actor stated in an interview with Hindustan Times that he would undoubtedly choose theatres if given the choice. He believes that the 'safety crutch" of the OTT industry has made matters worse. The difference is that previously, films were available on OTT six months after their theatrical debut. He suggested that if people want us to start over, studios and producers will need to say, 'We won't sell to OTT before six months," and then observe how the company develops. Kamal Gianchandani, the former president of The Multiplex Association of India, stated in the statement, 'Aamir Khan has always prioritised the audience in his films. His decision to bring Sitaare Zameen Par exclusively to cinemas is a significant show of confidence in theatres and the shared magic of the moviegoing experience." He further mentioned, 'Indian exhibitors thank Aamir Khan for standing by theatres. As we continue to welcome audiences with renewed energy and world-class films, Sitaare Zameen Par will remain a shining example of cinema's resilience and its irreplaceable magic." Sitaare Zameen Par is a sequel to the 2007 film Taare Zameen Par. Directed by RS Prasanna, the film also starred Genelia D'Souza in the lead role. First Published:
India Today
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
India's cinema halls struggle with dwindling footfalls
(NOTE: This article was originally published in the India Today issue dated June 23, 2025)Amidst the glitz and spectacle of the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), one topic weighed on the minds of most film industry stakeholders—the current crisis in the theatre business. 'I have always believed that India has too few theatres, given the size of the country and [number of] people,' actor Aamir Khan said at a session. 'Our biggest theatre hits have had footfalls of 30-35 million. That's 2 per cent of our population in what is a cinema-loving country.' Seated next to him was Ajay Bijli, founder of PVR Cinemas and managing director of country's biggest multiplex chain, PVR INOX Ltd. Bijli replied in jest, 'Main office jaata hoon [I better head to office to get work done].'advertisementThe world's most populous country has just about 9,000 screens, a number that has been steadily declining, largely due to the closure of single-screen cinemas. The figure implies that there are roughly 7-8 screens per million people. More than half of these screens are concentrated in southern territories, predominantly in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, followed by Karnataka and Kerala. Even as new box office benchmarks have been set post-pandemic with releases like Pathaan, Jawan, Animal, Stree 2 and Pushpa–Chapter 2–The Rule, the hard reality is that footfalls have still not matched up to 2019 levels. As Aamir called for more screens in 'vast tracts where there are no cinemas', Bijli reminded us that existing screens were struggling to put bums on the existing 4 million seats. 'Consistency of content that engages is important, as the consumer is critical,' Bijli said. 'We need to start cinemas pockets where they are not available.'advertisement The latest EY report on India's media and entertainment sector states the need for low-priced theatres in Tier III and IV markets alongside growth in 'mass-themed films'. Five months into 2025, there has been only one that fits the bill—Chhaava, a period action drama on Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, which collected Rs 530 crore, a significant chunk of it coming from Maharashtra. Bollywood's sluggish start to the year cannot be attributed to just fewer big releases in the first half. Mid-budget films have also struggled to make an impact, with just a few exceptions such as Kesari-Chapter 2, Raid 2 and Jatt. At Cinepolis India, which has 186 of its 430 screens in Tier II and III centres, the situation is improving, but with a caveat. 'While overall attendance figures have recovered to near pre-Covid levels—85 per cent of 2019 level in 2024—this is primarily due to the increase in screen count rather than per-screen productivity, which is down 25-30 per cent,' says Devang Sampat, the managing director of the multiplex group. 'This disparity highlights the underlying challenges the exhibition sector faces. Ultimately, it boils down to the content the industry is churning out.' The chain's expansion strategy has seen it open cinemas in Kozhikode, Bhopal, Jaipur, Rajkot and Kannur, with plans to set up shop in Jhansi, Pondicherry and Jodhpur in a few DIVIDE Talk to any exhibitor and the conversation ultimately boils down to the lack of a steady stream of compelling films that can lure the audiences back into cinema halls. 'Nobody makes movies for the masses anymore,' says Yusuf Shaikh, whose family operates five single screeners in Gujarat that are just about breaking even. 'We are not ready to understand who our audience is or [have] ignored who they are.' An 'ABCD film', one that connects in all geographic centres, is a rarity, he says. Instead, he praises filmmakers in the South for working out 'their target audience and sale and recovery model' as well as marketing, which has resulted in a few films becoming hits even in the Hindi belt. 'In the South, actors have their own fan clubs. Even the music and trailer launch are events for them,' he no overlooking the fact that the South is way above the rest of India when it comes to big screen viewing. As per of the 6,877 theatres in India, 54 per cent are in the five southern states. Add Maharashtra, and the figure rises to 70 per cent. Screen density in the South too is much higher than the national average. Ashish Pandey, currently head, programming and strategic initiatives, at MovieMax, has been in the film distribution business for over two decades and has some understanding on why the likes of Andhra, Telangana and Tamil Nadu dominate. 'In the South, there's a culture of going to the cinemas. It's not like you are going for the sake of entertainment alone. It's also not considered demeaning to go to the cinemas. So, there's no hesitation,' he says. 'A regular audience comes regardless of which film is released. There's penetration of cinemas even in smaller towns.'advertisement But all is not hunky-dory even in the hero-worshipping South. If there's a Tourist Family (Tamil) or Thudarum or Alappuzha Gymkhana (both Malayalam) which succeeds, there's also a Kamal Haasan-Mani Ratnam's Thug Life, which failed to live up to the hype. Sunil Narang of Asian Cinemas feels some course correction is needed, especially when it comes to aspects such as the theatre-to-streaming release window. In the South, it's just 28 days, compared to 56 days in the Hindi belt. Steep ticket prices as well as those for food and beverage, he feels, are also deterring audiences. 'How can we have more screens when existing screens are not running?' he laments. 'Where are the movies? Where are the numbers? How will the theatres run?' As many as 30-40 single-screen cinemas in the South have closed in the past six months, he says. THE BIG PICTUREadvertisementIf India wants to level up to the markets in China and the United States, what it needs are films that pique audience interest enough for them to make the trip. 'There isn't a regular supply of tentpole pictures or big films. They come once every three months; the rest of the time is when we face a downturn,' says Pandey, whose MovieMax is looking to expand from 80 to 100 screens by the end of the year. 'Once we have a stronger content pipeline, the expectation is that those footfalls will come back. Because people are coming to the cinemas even to watch re-releases and smaller, mid-budget fare like Munjya and 12th Fail.'But even these pleasant surprises are too few and far between. Bijli summarises the cinema theatre business post-pandemic as akin to 'feast and famine', wherein a film does exceedingly well only to be followed by a long dry spell where nothing clicks. Yet, he also realises that new cinemas need to come up in smaller centres as opposed to the big cities. Currently, 372 of PVR INOX's 1,743 screens are located in 66 Tier II and Tier III cities and come with a cumulative seating capacity of 80,947. In 2018, the multiplex giant launched the 'franchise owned, company operated' (FOCO) model to take its presence beyond the metros. Adopting an 'asset-light strategy', FOCO has franchise partners who own the property but with PVR INOX handling the design, operations and customer experience. Under this, 42 screens are operating across 12 locations, with 35 more planned in nine new locations, including Shillong, Gangtok and Shaikh is hoping to revolutionise the film exhibition market with Janta Cinemas, a business idea that emerged from a simple premise: 'Grahak khada hai, dukaan hi nahin hai [(The customer is there. But there's no shop in sight)'. He has tied up with the state governments of Assam and Tripura to convert vacant town halls and panchayat houses into 300-seater cinema spaces. While the morning and afternoon hours are devoted to edutainment, the evenings are reserved for films. Tickets are priced at Rs 99 and Shaikh throws in a chai and samosa too.'What this country needs is cinema halls for the masses. I am planning 10,000 screens in the next two years,' he boasts, adding that he is already communicating with the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Delhi to launch more Janta properties. 'I am converting the pirate audience to the ticketed audience.' The ultimate endeavour, he hopes, is that there's a steady maintenance of average collections through modest outlets, which, in turn, helps build a loyal audience. It may not have swanky recliner seats or fancy food and beverage offerings, but what it can ensure is that the show goes on. A houseful one at to India Today Magazine
India Today
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
A dwindling audience
Tmidst the glitz and spectacle of the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), one topic weighed on the minds of most film industry stakeholders—the current crisis in the theatre business. 'I have always believed that India has too few theatres, given the size of the country and [number of] people,' actor Aamir Khan said at a session. 'Our biggest theatre hits have had footfalls of 30-35 million. That's 2 per cent of our population in what is a cinema-loving country.' Seated next to him was Ajay Bijli, founder of PVR Cinemas and managing director of country's biggest multiplex chain, PVR INOX Ltd. Bijli replied in jest, 'Main office jaata hoon [I better head to office to get work done].'
