“2006 has been good not only for exhibitors but for producers also,” says Dingra of Adlabs Cinemas. Says Tandon of Inox, “The total turnover in the year 2005 was Rs 63.7 crore and in 2006, we had crossed that mark by September.” The exhibition industry in India is being pegged at Rs 1,000 crore and six players dominate the market. The growth rate expected in the coming years is 35-40 %. But players are quick to add that India is highly under-screened. In France, there are 75 screens for a population of 10 lakh, in the US 102 screens, in the UK 35-40 screens, but in India there are only six to eight screens for the same population. There is, therefore, a lot of scope for growth.

What’s the buzz in 2007? Says Dingra of Adlabs Cinemas, “This year will see more evolved cinema. New formats and new technology will be brought in and an effort will be made to reach out to new cities – this will help combat piracy.” Multiplexes are already exploring new ways of attracting audiences. Fame Adlabs has come up with digital cinema in one of its multiplexes in Malad.