MAM
Ajay Devgn’s NY Cinemas Launches India’s First Thematic Multiplex in Ratlam
July, 04 2019, Ratlam – NY Cinemas, a venture by Ajay Devgn, launched its first thematic multiplex in one of the rising cities in the Indian heartland, Ratlam. The brand new 2-screen multiplex hosts Ratlam’s biggest screen with a capacity of 460 seats, 3D-equipped 2K projection and 7.1 surround sound, bringing the latest in multiplex technology to the city. Its biggest attraction is the railways-inspired interior which transports you through the different ages of the train and how it has evolved in both India and cinema.
NY Cinemas is also introducing the concept of Photo Time Machine in its cinemas where movie-goers can teleport themselves to different eras, even dimensions, and take back memories with them that will last forever. Apart from the Photo Time Machine, NY Cinemas Ratlam will also house the NY Store, where you can purchase exclusive memorabilia and merchandise autographed by Ajay Devgn himself. The NY Cafe, on the other hand, will provide cine-lovers with a plethora of food and beverage options, combining perennial cinema favourites with local cuisine.
NY Cinemas is a multiplex chain launched by Ajay Devgn, with a brand philosophy of “For the Love of Cinema”, aimed at providing an international cinema experience across India with an ethos that pays homage to Indian cinema.
Speaking on the same, Ajay Devgn said, “We are dedicating this Ratlam multiplex as an ode to the iconic railway network of the country through the years of Indian cinema. We are glad to introduce this thematic movie watching experience with an exclusive concept powered by advanced technological solutions to our audience.”
NY Cinemas CEO, Rajeev Sharma further commented, “Indian movies are all about their varied themes and taking this further we are introducing cinemas which provide an overall experience. We are proud to present this thematic multiplex catering to all the needs of the audience. With our constant endeavor for innovation, we look forward to welcome movie lovers in Ratlam and are confident that our audience will love the complete experience.”
The idea behind NY Cinemas is to create a unique, concept-driven multiplex theatre design that will be unlike any other cinema experience in India. NY Cinemas currently has screens operational in Bhuj, Hapur, Ghazipur, Raebareli and Surendranagar.
AD Agencies
Abhay Duggal joins JioStar as director of Hindi GEC ad sales
The streaming giant brings in a seasoned revenue hand as the battle for Hindi television advertising heats up
MUMBAI: Abhay Duggal has a new desk, and JioStar has a new weapon. The media and entertainment veteran has joined JioStar as director of entertainment ad sales for Hindi general entertainment channels, adding 17 years of hard-won revenue experience to one of India’s most powerful broadcasting operations.
Duggal is no stranger to big portfolios or bruising markets. Before joining JioStar, he spent a brief stint at Republic World as deputy general manager and north regional head for ad sales. Before that, he put in three years at Enterr10 Television, where he ran the north region for Dangal TV and Dangal 2, two of India’s leading free-to-air Hindi channels. The north alone accounted for more than 50 per cent of total channel revenue on his watch, a number that tends to get attention in any sales meeting.
His longest stint was at Zee Entertainment Enterprises, where he spent over six years rising to associate director of sales. There he commanded the Hindi movies cluster across seven channels, owned more than half of north India’s revenue across flagship properties including Zee TV and &TV, and closed marquee sponsorships across the Indian Premier League, Zee Rishtey Awards and Dance India Dance. He also handled monetisation for the English movies and entertainment cluster and the global news channel WION, a portfolio that would stretch most sales teams twice his size.
Earlier in his career Duggal closed what was then a Rs 3 crore single deal at Reliance Broadcast Network, one of the largest in Indian radio at the time, before that he helped launch and monetise JAINHITS, India’s first HITS-based cable and satellite platform.
His edge, by his own account, lies in marrying data and instinct: translating audience trends, inventory signals and client demands into long-term partnerships built on cost-per-rating-point discipline rather than short-term deal chasing. In a media landscape being reshaped by streaming, fragmented attention and AI-driven advertising, that kind of rigour is increasingly rare and increasingly valuable.
JioStar, which blends the scale of Reliance’s Jio platform with the content firepower of Star, is doubling down on its advertising business at precisely the moment the Hindi GEC market is getting more competitive. Bringing in someone who has spent nearly two decades doing exactly this, across some of India’s most watched channels, is a pointed statement of intent. Duggal has spent his career turning audiences into revenue. JioStar is clearly betting he can do it again, and bigger.
