A home for Hindi movies

HOW POPULAR is Bollywood in Dravidian land? Okay. May be not SO Dravidian. Even if it is just Dravidian-cosomopolitan mix, do those Hindi flicks sizzle screens in Chennai?

They do, increasingly. With the number of movies clearing celebration time in Chennai theatres, we are left wondering, is the Tamil movie crowd, increasingly fanning out, exploring. Are they straying into Hindi territory? Perhaps they are. Or that is what people at Media Dreams think. Which is why they are pushing to convert Woodlands Theatre into a home for popular Hindi movies.

No surprise considering block busters like Lagaan, Dil Chahtha Hai, Pyar Tune Kya Kiya and even Yaadein have done better than expected in the city. Though Melody Theatre does run a Hindi movie bastion in Royapettah, its parking problems are legendary. Therefore, Media Dreams decided to look far and wide to evolve that perfect Hindi theatre zone. And narrowed in on Woodlands Theatre.

Having signed a two year lease for `picture finalisation' with the theatre, Media Dreams is aiming at creating super specialisation in movie distribution networks. Why Woodlands? Because 1) A good parking area, 2) Easy exits and entrances, 3) Not far from arterial Anna Salai. The response has been pretty good, according to Mr. K.R. Subramaniam of Media Dreams. ``Once the regulars (read Hindi movie watchers) cottoned on to the fact that some of the good movies were being released in Woodlands, they zeroed in. And found it more convenient, especially in terms of parking,'' he says.

The multi-star cast flick Dil Chahta Hai has run to full house since it began showing in Woodlands, and now is running into its eighth week. `Yeh Tera Ghar Yeh Mera Ghar' also did well.

Noting that good Hindi movies have an assured audience, unlike before, in Chennai, Mr. Subramaniam believes that the group is bound to swell.

In time, Media Dreams proposes to make a few changes to the theatre, improve the ambience and facilities for the audience.

Wait and watch for Asoka, the Shahrukh-Ajit blockbuster to be released all over India, at Woodlands. Coming October 26. And if you keep your fingers crossed hard enough, Shahrukh might come to town too!

By Ramya Kannan

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