KSFDC to have 16 theatres by year-end

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Giving a strong signal to the private theatre owners, the government is all set to increase the number of its own state-of-the-art theatres across the state. The number of  the screens owned by the  Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC) will be raised from 10 to 16 by the end of this year, by splitting four of its theatres into twin theatres and building two new ones.
 Presently, KSFDC has twin theatres at Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Thrissur  and single screens in Thiruvananthapuram, Cherthala, North Paravur and Chittoor.
Both the Kairali theatres  at Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode will be split into two and refurbished.
“The renovation would be done during the rainy days because it is the lean period  in collection. We want it to finish the works before the Onam season. The minister himself is very keen on this project,’’ said KSFDC chairman Sabu Cherian. Chitranjali theatres in Cherthala and North Paravur will also be split into two with modern facilities.
The Kalabhavan Theatre  at Vazhuthacaud here would be made a releasing centre while Chittoor  Chitranjali will continue to enjoy the same status as of now though both will undergo renovation.
 The major project of the corporation this year will be the construction of twin air- conditioned theatre on seventy cents of land at Alappuzha.
“The theatre will be completed at a cost of nearly Rs 2.5 crore. We won’t be spending much on the exteriors but will have best facilities inside the halls. The design of the twin theatre has been prepared and the the works of the building will be completed by the end of this year,’’ said KSFDC chairman.
 More theatres are in the pipeline and KSFDC has received favourable replies from six local bodies including five municipalities and one grama panchayat, Munnar, for setting up twin theatres with a food court.