SPI Cinemas

Coordinates: 13°03′23″N 80°15′33″E / 13.056355°N 80.259151°E / 13.056355; 80.259151

SPI Cinemas
Private
Industry Entertainment
Founded April 1974 (1974-04)
Headquarters Royapettah, Chennai, India
Number of locations
 8
Area served
Key people
  • Kiran Reddy (MD)
  • Tan Ngaronga (COO)
Parent SPI Group Private Ltd.
Website spicinemas.in

SPI Cinemas is an Indian multiplex chain and film production company owned by the SPI Group, headquartered in Chennai. It operates multiplexes in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Originally named Sathyam Cinemas after its first multiplex, the company was later renamed SPI Cinemas as it introduced several other multiplexes. SPI is often lauded for its premium quality and inexpensive pricing.[1][2] Its theatres, primarily Sathyam Cinemas, are often used by filmmakers for film premieres and audio launch events.[3] Popcorn served at SPI Cinemas has received considerable praise from filmgoers and the media.[4]

SPI is notable for being the first multiplex operator in India to equip its screens with the Dolby Atmos and Auro 11.1 sound systems.[5][6] SPI also introduced the first IMAX screens in Chennai with its Luxe Cinemas and Palazzo Cinemas brands.[7]

History

Sathyam Cinemas was originally named the "Royal Theatre Complex" and was built by Raja from Venkatagiri in April 1974.[8][9] With a capacity of 1,255 seats, it was the largest multiplex built in Chennai at the time.[10]

Kiran Reddy, the current CEO of SPI Group, revealed in a 2012 interview with The Hindu that Sathyam Cinemas was acquired by his family "from someone" in the 1980s. It was acquired for real estate purposes with no intention of continuing the theatre business. He claimed, "The intent was to demolish the Sathyam building. The theatre wasn't a viable business if you looked at the value of the land." However, when he got involved in the business, the family had made several improvements to the theatre.[11] Reddy had taken over the business in 1999 and continued developing the theatre, adding three more screens and refurbishing the existing three.[12]

In 2009, Sathyam Cinemas established itself as a film production company, producing its first film, Thiru Thiru Thuru Thuru.[13]

In January 2015, PVR Cinemas was revealed to be in talks to acquire all the screens under the SPI Cinemas brand. However, the deal fell through due to the widespread sentimental and negative reactions received from filmgoers.[14][15] Luxe Cinemas, which was opened in April 2014, was sold to Jazz Cinemas in October 2015.[16]

Future

In September 2015, SPI revealed that a five-screen multiplex was under construction in Bangalore.[17]

Locations

State/Territory City Theater Name Theater Locality Number of Screens
Tamil Nadu Chennai Sathyam Cinemas Royapettah 6
Escape Cinemas[18] Express Avenue, Royapettah 8
S2 Perambur Spectrum Mall, Perambur 5
S2 Theyagaraja Old Theyagaraja Talkies, Thiruvanmiyur 2
Palazzo Cinemas The Forum Vijaya, Vadapalani 9 (including one IMAX)
Coimbatore The Cinema[19] Brookefields Mall, Krishnaswamy Road 6
Andhra Pradesh Nellore S2 Nellore Old Raghava Cineplex, Pogathota 3
Karnataka Bengaluru The Cinema Magadi Road 5

References

  1. ↑ "Hollywood praise for Sathyam Cinemas!". Behindwoods. 31 October 2012.
  2. ↑ Naveena Vijayan (15 April 2014). "Luxe Takes Movie Experience Beyond the Conventional". The New Indian Express.
  3. ↑ Lata Srinivasan (1 November 2012). "Ang Lee praises Sathyam Cinemas". The Times of India.
  4. ↑ Sudhir Srinivasan (14 May 2015). "Chennai’s corny tradition". The Hindu.
  5. ↑ Aaron Almeida (5 December 2012). "Dolby launches its Dolby Atmos audio platform in India". Firstpost.
  6. ↑ Bill Mead (25 November 2013). "Technology in review: Asia embraces digital, 3D and immersive sound". Film Journal International.
  7. ↑ Karthik Subramanian (29 March 2014). "Multiplex gets nod at Velachery Phoenix mall". The Hindu.
  8. ↑ N. Ramakrishnan (27 December 2013). "Chennai has a big role to play". Business Line.
  9. ↑ "Sathyam Cinemas Selects Qube for All Screens of Its Flagship Multiplex at Chennai, India". Business Wire. 27 June 2007.
  10. ↑ Nitya Menon (27 November 2013). "The changing scene". The Hindu.
  11. ↑ Shonali Muthalaly (23 February 2012). "Reddy Made In Chennai". The Hindu.
  12. ↑ Sreedhar Pillai (15 December 2006). "And now, the multiplex mania". The Hindu.
  13. ↑ Shalini Shah (7 August 2009). "A first for Sathyam". The Hindu.
  14. ↑ "Movie Goers Upset over PVR's Decision to Acquire Sathyam Cinemas". The New Indian Express. 13 January 2015.
  15. ↑ Daniel Thimmayya (13 January 2015). "Chennai is Still Very Fertile for Us". The New Indian Express.
  16. ↑ Udhav Naig, Sangeetha Kandavel (30 October 2015). "Jazz Cinemas buys Luxe multiplex". The Times of India.
  17. ↑ Rajaneesh Vilakudy (18 September 2015). "Sathyam Cinemas come to Bengaluru". The Times of India.
  18. ↑ Prince Frederick (18 June 2013). "Let the show begin". The Hindu.
  19. ↑ V. S. Palaniappan (6 December 2011). "The Cinema @ Brookefields opens tomorrow". The Hindu.

External Links

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