Movies
Miraj Cinemas inaugurates its first six-screen opulent multiplex in Bengaluru
Mumbai: Multiplex chain Miraj Cinemas opened its first six-screen ultra-luxurious multiplex in the city. The new multiplex is expected to offer a cutting-edge cinematic experience as well as best-in-class gourmet food options.
It’s on the first floor of TGN Lotus Elite, above D-Mart on Magadi Main Road in Sunkadakatte, Bangalore. Karnataka Infrastructure Development minister V Somanna, Karnataka Horticulture minister Munirathna and Cinema producer Karnataka Cooperation minister Somashekahar, MLA, Manjunath, Ex-MLA Priyakrishna and TGN Lotus MD T.G. Narasimha Murthy were also present at the grand opening of Miraj’s first multiplex in the city.
The multiplex chain plans to invest Rs 70 crore in the next 30 screens in cities such as Chennai, Ranchi, and Surat, among others. Furthermore, Rs 120 crore has been set aside as part of its aggressive investment for another 50 screens, with fit-out beginning in January to March 2023 and properties opening from July to October 2023 in cities such as Delhi, Bangalore, and Hyderabad.
Miraj Entertainment Ltd. MD Amit Sharma said, “It is indeed a momentous day for us as we open our flagship multiplex in Bengaluru today. Bengaluru is one of the country’s most vibrant and progressive cities, and we look forward to being a part of its growth story. With the launch of Beanary Café, which will be open to all regardless if you are there to watch a film or not, and our signature live kitchen, Cafe’s Corner, we are confident that the multiplex will be well-received by the people here. It will surely add to this booming city’s already vibrant culture and nightlife scene. Furthermore, setting up the multiplex in Sunkadakatte will attract more footfalls to this area and contribute positively to the city’s growing reputation as a key destination for films and filmmaking. It is a truly world-class facility that will provide an outstanding movie-going experience for our customers.”
The newly opened multiplex promises an immersive movie-watching experience and has 1,283 seats in total, including 1,203 ultra-comfortable seats and 80 recliner seats, as well as a palatial lobby. The ideal location for cinephiles to catch the latest international and Indian blockbusters!
Miraj Cinemas has installed top-tier Christie RGB Laser CP2320 2K projection systems and 7.1 Digital Dolby sound systems in four screens, as well as Dolby Atmos sound in two screens, to improve its patrons’ cinema viewing experience. Furthermore, the café is outfitted with cutting-edge processing equipment and adheres to strict hygiene and sanitation standards around the clock. Along with the live kitchen, the multiplex chain will open its first independent Beanary Café, which will offer a variety of food and beverage options.
Miraj Cinemas has finally opened its first six-screen multiplex in Bengaluru, after a decade-long journey under Sharma’s leadership. The state of Karnataka has been extremely welcoming and supportive of the multiplex chain, and it looks forward to serving the state’s movie-going population for many years to come. Miraj has kept up with technological advances that benefit moviegoers in tiers two and three cities as well as their counterparts in major metro areas, in addition to its national expansion plans.
Hollywood
Did the ballet and opera controversy cost Timothée Chalamet his Oscar? Â
The actor’s ‘dying art forms’ comments may have danced away his Oscar chances.
LOS ANGELES: Last night, the 98th Academy Awards delivered a performance that wasn’t in the script, as Michael B. Jordan clinched the Best Actor statue, leaving Timothée Chalamet’s widely predicted win to pirouette away into the night. While Chalamet was long considered the frontrunner for his starring turn in Marty Supreme, many are whispering that a singular, ill-timed performance, not on screen but on the campaign trail, may have rewritten the finale.
For months, the narrative surrounding the race had a singular star, Chalamet, the critics’ darling and the bookies’ bet. However, the closing numbers saw a dramatic plot twist. Chalamet found himself upstaged not just by his fellow nominees but by the ghost of public opinion, following remarks he made during a Variety and CNN actor-on-actor conversation in February.
What started as a breezy discussion turned distinctly frosty when Chalamet, the conversation’s designated trendsetter, took aim at some classical institutions. “I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera, where no one is interested anymore,” he said, before branding them “dying art forms.”
The backlash was swift and, unfortunately for Chalamet’s campaign, star-studded. For the film industry, an establishment that often fancies itself as the glamorous custodian of the high arts, the actor’s comments didn’t just strike a bum note. They sounded like a discordant symphony. Academy heavyweights, including Jamie Lee Curtis, Whoopi Goldberg and Steven Spielberg, publicly voiced their disapproval. Spielberg himself countered that the “cinematic experience” and classical performance are bound by a similar dedication to audience engagement, effectively suggesting that Chalamet’s view was perhaps a bit too modern for its own good.
The conversation quickly became a media maelstrom. In a masterstroke of high-culture clapback, renowned ballerina Misty Copeland didn’t just issue a statement. The Academy even choreographed a surprise performance by her for the ceremony itself, a powerful, wordless rebuttal that many saw as a direct riposte to Chalamet’s dismissive claims. Even regional arts institutions joined the choreography. The Seattle Opera offered a cheeky “TIMOTHEE” discount, granting a 14 percent markdown to prove that people do, in fact, care.
Did this cultural counterpoint truly cost Chalamet his win? While some industry insiders argue that Michael B. Jordan’s complex dual performance in Sinners, a performance that also swept the SAG Awards, had simply built up too much momentum, the timing of Chalamet’s comments was undeniably poor. Coming as final Oscar voting began, they arguably soured his narrative and made a vote for him feel, to some, like a vote against artistic unity.
Even the ceremony itself wasn’t finished with the narrative. Host Conan O’Brien, whose sharp tongue is a celebrated feature of these galas, didn’t miss a beat. “Security is extremely tight tonight,” O’Brien jibed during his opening monologue, glancing toward the front row. “I’m told there are concerns about attacks from both the opera and ballet communities. They’re just mad you left out jazz!”
The laughter that followed was pointed, a final public curtain call for a controversy that Chalamet likely wished had closed weeks ago. Whether it was a case of genuine peer disapproval, a sudden surge in support for Jordan’s powerhouse performance, or simply a case of poor footwork on the campaign stage, the ballet and opera debacle has now cemented its place in Oscar history. Chalamet’s experience serves as a clear memo to future contenders. Even when you are the headline act, a solo performance can still fall flat if you forget to play to the entire house.
