Hyderabad, September 21: You will now have to pay more to catch the latest flick at the Imax. With the state government allowing for hike in rates, viewing movies in the Imax Multiplex on Necklace Road is going to be a costly affair.
Last month, the chairman of Prasad Media Corporation, had submitted a representation for enhancement of rates of admission in the Imax theatre for 3D movies, stating the theatre provided a large format cinema presentation, with superior and unique visual experience, which was recognised worldwide. He said their request for increase in admission rates also merits consideration due to the huge capital cost spent on the Imax projection system. The cost of the Imax equipment is Rs 23 crore compared to the equipment in a multiplex which is hardly around Rs 60 lakh. Imax also pays annual maintenance charges to Imax Corporation, Canada amounting to around 75,000 dollars, which amounts to around Rs 36 lakh per year, compared to the charges for a screen in multiplex which is only Rs 15,000 per annum.
In an Imax theatre, two prints are used for getting the right 3D effect, which means investing on 2 prints for the same movie. For instance, they paid 75,000 dollars for Avatar-3D compared to no print cost for 3D movies in other multiplexes.
–Agencies