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PVR to bring 4DX technology to India with CJ 4DPLEX
MUMBAI: India’s largest multiplex operator PVR has inked a deal with 4D cinema company CJ 4DPLEX to bring 4DX technology to its movie theatres.
PVR will launch the 4DX technology at PVR Cinemas this year at its first Superplex, a 15-screen multiplex at Logix City Centre in Noida, India. This will make the Superplex India’s most advanced cinematic viewing experience, strategically located in the heart of the city, bringing the audience world class formats including Imax, ECX, PVR Premier, PVR Gold Class, PVR 4DX and PVR Playhouse.
PVR CEO Gautam Dutta said, “We are excited about our association with CJ 4DPLEX. India is a land of cinema lovers. The country has an immense potential to both produce and consume movies in various formats. Introducing 4DX at PVR Cinemas will be another step to offer finest movie experience to our patrons here. PVR has always aimed to give the best to its audiences and we see a promising future for this technology in our country.”
CJ 4DPLEX CEO Byun Hwan Choi added, “Our partnership with PVR is a great opportunity for 4DX to accelerate expansion in the world’s largest film-producing country. Being loved by the Indian moviegoers is a worthwhile challenge for us, and we are eager to achieve it. We look forward to a successful partnership with PVR.”
CJ 4DPLEX is also expanding its reach in Japan and has inked deals with two Japanese exhibitors. As of 31 March, it signed with Harima Enterprise to bring a 96-seat 4DX auditorium to a newly built multiplex in Himeji city, Japan. Additionally, another top-tier Japanese exhibitor is scheduled to sign in the last week of this month, becoming 4DX’s sixth partner exhibitor in Japan – the second largest number of partners in a single country thus far, behind only China.
Since its first 4D screening of Avatar in 2010, CJ 4DPLEX has brought more than 23,000 4DX seats to 170 theatres in 33 countries – opening on approximately one new screen every week as theatres recognize the power of being able to offer a wider range of formats and differentiated movie-going experiences to its patrons. In 2014 alone, 4DX launched 53 new screens compared with 47 in the previous year. Globally, 4DX has attracted more than 20 million attendees as of January 2014, and it is expected to pass 30 million by the end of 2015.
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Pocket FM elevates Lalit Gangwar to COO to drive global growth
Founding member to lead operations, monetisation and expansion across markets
MUMBAI: Pocket FM has elevated Lalit Gangwar to chief operating officer, tasking the founding team member with leading global business operations as the company sharpens its international growth strategy.
In his new role, Gangwar will oversee end-to-end operations across markets, including growth, monetisation and execution for the company’s audio business. The appointment comes as Pocket FM looks to strengthen its operating foundation and build a more predictable, scalable global business.
Gangwar has been closely involved in shaping the company’s trajectory from its early days. He played a key role in building the growth and marketing playbook in India, helping the platform scale to over 150 million users within its first year and establish a strong foothold in the audio storytelling category.
He later led Pocket FM’s expansion into the United States, where he set up teams, defined market strategy and drove scale, contributing significantly to the company’s international ambitions.
Pocket FM co-founder and CEO Rohan Nayak said, “Lalit has been central to Pocket FM’s journey from the very beginning. He has built our growth engine and scaled our business across markets.” He added that the company’s focus on nurturing internal talent makes Gangwar a natural choice to lead the next phase.
Gangwar said, “Pocket FM has always been driven by a simple belief that powerful stories can travel across borders and create meaningful impact.” He noted that the company will continue to focus on scaling markets, investing in AI-led storytelling and strengthening monetisation.
As COO, Gangwar is expected to bring greater operating discipline while building systems, talent and processes to support long-term growth.
With leadership continuity and a clear global focus, Pocket FM appears to be turning the page to its next chapter, one that aims to take its storytelling playbook well beyond home turf.
