Thaindian News

New Delhi, Oct 4 (IANS) Four avant-garde auditoriums, a cafe, a chic restaurant-cum-bar, a lounge, a patisserie and a book shop devoted to movies — the movie-watching experience in the capital is getting bigger and better with PVR’s latest venture, the Director’s Cut.

PVR, one of the country’s biggest multiplex chains, has launched a one-stop destination for those who love movies and love to enjoy the big screen experience in a luxurious set up.

“We have the Gold Class but Director’s Cut is a notch above it. Over 15 years, we have launched different formats like Premier and Gold, and now we are going to launch PVR Talkies (in small towns). But Director’s Cut is a different experience altogether,” PVR Ltd chairman and managing director Ajay Bijli told reporters here.

The first such property has been opened in Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj.

With fully recliner, cushioned seats, digital projection and 7.1 surround sound system - the four halls can accommodate a total of 282 people, with 108 in the biggest hall, and 25 in the smallest.

“We felt south Delhi had the right demographics for such a place … people like to spend on experiences like these, and so we thought of opening the first such place here,” Bijli said.

White lamps sit on a console beside each seat, and a waiter is just a button away for any hunger pangs. You can wine and dine while watching a movie at the halls, which are done to suit contemporary tastes.

There’s a heady mix of movies and luxury in every spot - imprints of signatures of cinematic legends like Akira Kurosawa and Satyajit Ray find place on the glass panels of the restaurant, while black and white classic photographs of filmmakers like Ashutosh Gowariker, Farhan Akhtar, Karan Johar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Yash Chopra, among others, adorn the walls of a sitting area.

A well-stocked store selling books, posters, mugs, bags, stickers and T-shirts on movies adds to the experience.

A weekday ticket to the theatre costs Rs.600, and a weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) ticket comes for Rs.1,050.

Chopra, who was here to officially launch Director’s Cut, was impressed with the idea and ambience.

“This is an outstanding experience for theatre-going audiences in India. Instead of watching the movie, going home and relaxing, the experience can be stretched to sitting with friends at the lounge and discussing the movie right here,” the veteran filmmaker said.

“I haven’t seen a commercial theatre with 7.1 surround system ever … we have them in our recording theatres, but this is great,” he added.

Taking cinema-going beyond latest releases, PVR is also introducing the Director’s Rare - through which international films from Europe, France, Korea, China and other markets will be brought to the audience.

“We are aiming at bringing regional films, international films, as well as vintage and classic films to movie buffs,” said PVR Ltd joint managing director Sanjeev Kumar Bijli.

“We also have a video library out of which people can choose, and book an audi of their choice for a private, luxurious experience,” he added.

He also said they would bring filmmakers to host a masterclass with viewers - to increase interaction and spread the understanding of cinema.