'Create memories here': Asifabad gets its first theatre owned by women SHGs
For the first time in 30 years, their wish of watching a movie in a theatre was fulfilled.
By Nimisha S Pradeep Published on 12 March 2022 4:04 AM GMT
It was a dream come true for the people of Kumaram Bheem Asifabad on Friday. For the first time in 30 years, their wish of watching a movie in a theatre was fulfilled.
On Friday, the first theatre of the district was opened. More importantly, `KB Theatres' is owned by women Self Help Groups (SHGs). Watching NT Rama Rao, Charan-starrer RRR on the big screen with Dolby sound gave goosebumps to the people of Asifabad.
"It's an emotional moment," says an official from KB Asifabad. "It was their wish to have a cinema theatre. They enjoyed the experience thoroughly."
RRR is a movie by director S.S Rajamouli based on the lives of two revolutionaries, Alluri Sitarama Raju and Kumaram Bheem, who return home to fight against British colonialists in the 1920s. Asifabad is the birthplace of RRR protagonist Kumaram Bheem. "So all the more the excitement," says the official.
KB Asifabad was formed in 2016 after the bifurcation of Adilabad. It has a population of 35,000 people. When the Department of Rural Development and Administration (DRDA) and Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) were toying with the idea of setting up a movie theatre, the expenses were proving to be the biggest hurdle. Officials required over Rs. 4 crore for setting up the theatre. Luckily they came across `Picture Time', the world's first mobile digital movie theatre functioning in Leh, Chattisgarh, etc. They agreed to set up a theatre for Rs. 50 lakh.
"What's unique about this project is the tie-up between Picture Time and Zila Samakhya, which looks after the SHGs in the district. RS 30 lakh was provided by Zila Samakhya and Rs 20 lakh by Picture Times. While the SHG will look after the overall management of the theatre, bringing movies, screening it, and other technical operations will be overseen by Picture Time," says the official.
With the 24*10 inches screen and JBL Dolby sound system, it provides something very close to a multiplex experience. The authorities are hoping to achieve breakeven in 1.5 years.
