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Cinema’s new dimension
Escaping real life for the reel life
| FROM ISSUE # 165 (September 2009) | IN THIS ISSUE | |||
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Gaping at the 'now showing' board when passing Jai Nepal is almost a reflex action; something about it fascinates. For the rest of the microbus ride, everybody is in full 'movie-talk' mode. 
Whether its the mere experience of relaxing in an
air-conditioned hall, popping popcorn or chattering with the person beside you (and sometimes quite a few seats away) or simply sitting back, relaxing in anticipation of the being plunged into a fictional celluloid world, movie-going has always been among the best enjoyed leisure activities.
The cinema culture has come a long way since people walked miles to the village to watch silent movies, film strips that were manually worked and the audience sat outdoors on wooden benches.
Movie theatres are now triple the size and provide amenities that has changed the experience of
film-viewing altogether. Plush recliner seats, airconditioned comfort, snacks. But the essential character of movies hasn't changed: it is still about escaping real life for the reel life.
Kathmandu has caught on well to this trend, as urbanites are now in the habit of flocking to cinema halls all year round. And as if three shows in one hall weren't enough, multiplexes have come along, with three and more halls under one roof, completely revolutionising cinema culture.
 The newly opened 4D theatre at City Centre Mall |
The multiplex at City Center, when it opens soon, will have three theatres. And the pioneers Quest Entertainment, which runs the Valley's two most popular theatres Jai Nepal and Kumari, is also set to open its brand new multiplex inside the now under-construction Civic Mall at Sundhara.
The increase in the number of cinema halls is a testimony to the surge in movie-going. You will be hard pressed to find a ticket for any new Friday releases without advance-booking.
Even though the number of theaters are increasing, most of the movies that are exhibited, at least in the Valley, are foreign releases. Bollywood movies account for almost half of the movie screenings in Kathmandu with few Hollywood re-runs.
 Quest Entertainment's upcoming project at Sundhara's Civic Mall |
And now, there is 4D cinema at City Centre mall, bringing a whole new dimension to cinema. From having water sprayed at you, insects crawling on you or exploring your way through a maze, the experience is worth the hype it has received.
Says student Pritam Rai, a first time viewer, "When I heard there was going to be one in Nepal, I knew I had to be one of the first to check it out. It's simply awesome."
As much as the technology advances, one thing remains unchanged. The chitter chatter, the cheering, booing and laughing, makes movie going as much a social phenomenon now as it used to be back then.
Says Bhaskar Dhungana of Quest Entertainment, "Going to the cinema is a way to get together and catch up with the people in your life."
It is good news that Nepalese people are entering to the 3D theatre scenerio , but we should also think about our Nepalese movie.....bcoz nepalese people are wanting to watch Nepalese movie in such thaetre with fully 3D experience.
it really seems to be fun...i would like to visit as soon as possible...Thanks to WAVE
back in Nepal a year back, when I went to both Kumari n Jai Nepal hall, sound was worst (seriously). clarity doesn't mean good sound. if there are too many seats in a dolby sound hall, person sitting in the front will just hear the rear sound, one sitting at the last seat will hear only sound comming from the back speakers. as i know, there sound be very limited seats for real good 3d sound experience. and speakers well calibrated.