Cinema halls in the Valley are reopening after three decades. In 1989-90, theater owners closed cinema halls in the Valley due to threats and attacks by terrorists.
First multiplex inaugurated in Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated Kashmir’s first multiplex in Srinagar today. The opening ceremony was organized with a special screening of Aamir Khan’s film ‘Lal Singh Chaddha’. Although the regular shows will start from 30 September. This multiplex is open in Sonawar area of Srinagar. With this initiative, people will no longer have to go out of Kashmir to watch Bollywood movies on the big screen. Vikas Dhar, owner of the multiplex, said in a statement that it was a big dream for us, which has now come true.
Kashmir’s first multiplex has three movie theaters with a total capacity of 520 seats. A ‘Food Court’ has also been set up in the premises to promote street food. The scheduled inauguration of the INOX-run multiplex comes at a time when Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated a multipurpose cinema hall each in Pulwama and Shopian districts on Sunday. Describing the occasion as historic, Sinha had said in Pulwama, “We will soon build such multipurpose cinema halls in every district of Jammu and Kashmir.” He had said that cinema halls would soon be inaugurated in Anantnag, Srinagar, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Doda, Rajouri, Poonch, Kishtwar and Reasi.
J&K LG Manoj Sinha inaugurates Kashmir’s first multiplex in Srinagar.
With this inauguration, Kashmiris will get a chance to see movies on the big screen after more than three decades. pic.twitter.com/iShdUAdoPB
— ANI (@ANI) September 20, 2022
Cinema opened after three decades
Cinema halls in the Valley are reopening after three decades. In 1989-90, theater owners closed cinema halls in the Valley due to threats and attacks by terrorists. Authorities tried to reopen some theaters in the late 1990s. But in September 1999, the efforts of the authorities were thwarted due to the deadly grenade attack by terrorists on the Regal Cinema in the heart of Lal Chowk. One person also died in this attack.
Had to go out of Kashmir earlier
Two other theaters named Neelam and Broadway were also opened in the high security area of Srinagar, but they were also closed again. Many cinema halls have been converted into shopping complexes, nursing homes, while some were taken over by paramilitary forces. After which people had to travel long distances and go out of Kashmir to watch movies.
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(with agency input)
Source: www.tv9hindi.com”