Jammu and Kashmir: First multiplex after 3 decades in Srinagar

The 500 seated multiplex in the heart of Srinagar city would be inaugurated by J&K Lt Governor on Tuesday.

Sinha would inaugurate the multiplex created jointly by the Dhar family and INOX, one of the major film distributors and theatre chains at Badami Bagh Sonwar.

Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor starrer “Laal Singh Chaddhaa” would be a special inauguration screening tomorrow.

In 1989 when militancy erupted in Kashmir, a little known militant outfit Allah Tigers imposed a ban on the film screening in the Valley and all the 13 cinemas including nine in Srinagar stopped screening of films.

In 1999, the J&K government offered packages to the theater owners for re-opening of cinemas. Three of them – Broadway, Regal and Neelam (all in Srinagar) re-opened. All the three were later shut as very few would turn to watch movies.

The men at the multiplex were giving final touches for the big show tomorrow.

Apart from watching movies the multiplex would have numerous food courts and other entertainment options for kids also.

“INOX will bring the latest Hollywood and Bollywood films and hopefully we will cover the entire diaspora of the Indian film industry to showcase in Kashmir,” manager of the multiplex said.

Meanwhile, Fayaz Ahmad an elderly said “the cinema opening would remind me of those days when I was fond of watching films”. He said cinema was the only entertainment in Kashmir valley before things went wrong.

(With UNI inputs)