Back to Single Screens: 9,000 Theatres to Be Built Nationwide with Affordable Ticket Prices

By Sharad Rai

There is good news for cinema lovers. A well-known Bollywood film company, K. Sera Sera, has taken an initiative to bring smiles to the faces of audiences who were unable to afford expensive multiplex tickets. The company has begun work on an ambitious plan to build 9,000 single-screen cinema halls across India. Construction of 500 theatres is already underway as part of the first phase. These single theatres will be called “Chhotu Maharaj Cinema Hall.”

For several years, high ticket prices at multiplexes and the rising cost of food and beverages inside these complexes have discouraged lower- and middle-class audiences. Many viewers preferred to wait for films to premiere on television or OTT platforms instead of watching them in theatres. Keeping this problem in mind, K. Sera Sera has started working on a plan to develop simple, low-cost cinema halls.

The company is collaborating with 350 partners across the country and is using igloo dome-structured theatre technology. These theatres will offer affordable ticket prices and economical food options in their restaurants.

It is worth noting that K. Sera Sera is one of India’s largest digital service providers. The company has produced films such as Sarkar, Sarkar Raj, Partner, Golmaal, and Ab Tak 56. It has distributed more than 100 blockbuster films and processes over 1,000 regional and Bollywood titles every year.

Chhotu Maharaj Cinema Halls are dome-shaped theatres designed to provide a 360-degree visual experience. All 9,000 planned theatres will have attached snack and dining facilities. Contracts for building 500 cinema halls nationwide have already been finalized. Of these, 350 Chhotu Maharaj Cinema Halls will be set up in Bihar alone, with 20 already completed.

Ticket prices in these theatres will be categorized into Platinum, Gold, and Prime classes. In rural areas, ticket rates will be kept very affordable: Platinum – ₹150, Gold – ₹130 and Prime – ₹110. The aim is to ensure that more people can enjoy films in theatres and also make use of the attached restaurants.

According to sources, those who own land and are willing to invest around ₹50 lakh can partner with this cinema chain. These cinema halls, complete with restaurants, can be constructed in just 15 days and can also be relocated from one place to another. Built using folding technology, these single-screen theatres will offer audiences an HD cinema viewing experience.

The arrival of single-screen cinemas once again is being seen as a major development. It is great news for low-budget filmmakers as well as for audiences who wish to enjoy films in theatres at affordable prices. Single-screen cinema halls are truly making a comeback!