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Mukta Arts, Adlabs form JV to upgrade “B” class theatres
MUMBAI: In the near future, it looks as if cinema might give television a run for its money and lure audiences away from their home. Mukta Arts has entered into a joint venture with the Manmohan Shetty promoted Adlabs to form a new company called Mukta Adlabs Digital Exhibition. Under the aegis of the new JV company, producer-director and Mukta Arts chairman Subhash Ghai will seek to upgrade 400 “B” class theatres across India within the next year.
A press release says that Mukta Adlabs Digital Exhibition has immediate plans to upgrade a minimum of 100 selected theatres out of 500 theatres in the Punjab, UP, Bengal and Bihar. Maharashtra already has 21 theatres running films with this digital projection of picture and stereo sound. Commenting on this new technology, Subhash Ghai was quoted as saying: ” Wait and watch the economic revolution this technology will bring about in the cinema industry.”
A press release says that this new technology of digital projection through hard discs will avoid the use of film prints, which costs between Rs 50,000 and Rs 60,000 to the distributor. It will also enable audiences of “B” and “C” class centres to watch their favourite films on the first day itself – thereby making simultaneous worldwide release a possibility.
At present, in these centres, films were being shown after the third or fourth week of release, which gave a low revenue return to the exhibitors and distributors because of VCD and cable piracy, which stole the larger share of their revenue.
The release adds that audiences have been enthralled with such the cinematic experience and the collections have gone up by two to three times with the same normal ticket prices due to this new upgradation in technology.
Film marketing and distribution consultant Shonjoy Bhattacharjii welcomes the move by saying: “The greatest change and opportunity in the Indian market is the vast improvement in the exhibition sector. The recent spate of hit films – Andaz, Bhoot, Jism, Chalte Chalte – proves that audiences are returning to the theatres. This trend is more prominent in the big cities at present but will eventually filter down to the ‘B’ and ‘C’ markets. The market share of cinema as a medium has shot up due to improved infrastructure in the existing theatres and advent of multiplexes.”
The JV company Mukta Adlabs Digital Exhibition will also benefit from the fact that certain states have been encouraging the exhibition sector to adopt the latest technology by giving holiday taxes and other subsidies to promote cinema and its economy. The release quotes the example of UP, which has more than a 1,000 theatres. The state has given a 100 per cent tax exemption to multiplexes and 50 per cent for updating the old theatres. The same response of updating their cinema halls has also been shown by Bengal, which has 700 theatres in the state.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
