Thackeray to keep date with IMAX

Thackeray to keep date with IMAX
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MARCH 26: Look who is excited about IMAX and visiting it on Tuesday noon? None other than Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray with his family and entourage. So, what if his political adversaries including Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal were the first to get there on Sunday evening. They cut the ribbon; Thackeray will take in the sights and sounds of the IMAX.

IMAX officials said that a special show has been arranged for Thackeray and his family and friends on Tuesday and they are expecting quite a crowd. The IMAX is soon becoming a must-see, must-do on the social itinerary of the rich, famous and powerful of the city. ``Have you seen IMAX? No? Then you must,'' is the buzz in Bollywood.

Manmohan Shetty, who brought the IMAX to Mumbai, is ready to oblige people with special shows sicne he needs to promote the idea of seeing an IMAX-dimension film and the idea of making one too. Monday saw officials of various banks and Income Tax thronging the IMAX for a special show. Officials and members of the Censor Board will be among those treated to a special show but the date and time has not been decided, Shetty said.

The demand for experiencing a new visual treat on the biggest screen from within the film industry was so enormous on the first day, Sunday, that Shetty had to organise four shows. The response was tremendous and positive going by most reports but film-makers are a bit cautious to commit huge amounts required to make an IMAX film.Shetty, meanwhile, is on a roll. This Friday and Saturday, Shetty will be lionised at the two-day global convention on entertainment industry organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Comemrce and Industrries (FICCI) where IMAX and its possibilities in India and for Indian film-makers will be discussed. ``It is for the sheer love of cinema that I have taken the big risk to invest Rs.40 crore in this,'' he says.The shrewd businessman that he is, Shetty knows the value of organising these special shows. Having floated his well-known film processing unit, Adlabs, on the stock market, he wants to make sure decision-making people from all walks of life experience the IMAX. That's why the show for bank and Income Tax officials.

The IMAX will be open for public from this Friday. Shetty plans to hold ten shows a day and the admission rates will be Rs 150 for adults and Rs 75 for children.