India Low on Screen Density, Rues Rakeysh Mehra

Hyderabad, Jan 26 (IANS) Filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra says there's serious theatre crunch in the country and that is why a large percentage of the audience doesn't go to cinemas.

"We talk about going global with our business, but sadly we can't even take our films to audiences within the country due to low screen density. When we don't have enough screens to release our Hindi films, how can we accommodate multilingual films," Mehra said here on the sidelines of an event here.

Instead of building more multiplexes, Mehra said he believed in creating cinemas for the middle-class and lower middle-class audiences.

"Most of the lower income audience can't afford to go to the multiplex. That's why they prefer watching pirated copy of films at much cheaper price. Why not build theatres for them where movies can be screened at Rs.50 to Rs.75," he said.

Explaining the business model of building low-cost cinema halls, the "Rang De Basanti" maker said: "We need not have to construct a posh building. A simple screen with the decent sound system should do. Instead of a pantry, have a regular chai shop with samosas, and a decent bathroom."