Srinagar likely to get its first multiplex cinema theatre

Kashmir valley is likely to get its first Multiplex cinema after 30 years. It will be the first of its kind entertainment centre in the valley. Most of the cinema halls like Regal, Palladium, Khayam, Firdous, Shah cinema, Neelam, Shiraz, Khayam and Broadway theatres were shut in the 1990s.

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): Srinagar city is set to get its first multiplex cinema as the project has received approval in principle. It will be the first of its kind entertainment centre in Kashmir.

Vijay Dhar, a prominent businessman who owned the Broadway theatre in the Badami Bagh Cantonment area of the city, is reported to have started the construction at the site of old Broadway theatre.

"The construction of the multiplex has been completed with only two curtains and other necessary equipment to be installed. It is hoped that the multiplex will open for the public in March 2023", Vijay Dhar said.

He further said that our aim is to provide all the facilities to the children of Kashmir which the children of Jammu have. If a child from Jammu can watch a movie in a cinema hall, why not here? "

"A fire had gutted the building. But the owner has decided to construct the multiplex at the same site to continue the tradition of entertaining people," sources said.

When separatist violence started in Kashmir in the early 1990s all the cinema halls in the major towns were shut following threats to the owners by militant organisations.

Regal, Palladium, Khayam, Firdous, Shah cinema, Neelam, Shiraz, Khayam and Broadway theatres were shut at the beginning of 1990s.

Some of the theatre buildings, like Shah cinema, Shiraz, Palladium and Firdous, were occupied by the security forces. They converted them into makeshift headquarters for fight against militancy.

Vijay is the son of late D.P. Dhar, a prominent Kashmiri Pandit politician who was a Minister in the Indira Gandhi government.

He also set up the Srinagar branch of the DPS after the start of militancy. The school in the Athwajan outskirts of the city is a reputed educational institution.

Late DP Dhar was a minister in the Indira Gandhi government and has also served as the Deputy Home Minister in Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah's government in 1947 after Independence.

With inputs from IANS