THE ENDURING ALLURE OF CINEMAS
BW Businessworld|October 07, 2023
AJAY BIJLI, Chairman and MD, PVR Cinemas, in an exclusive chat with BW Businessworld, talks about the revival of cinemagoing in India, strategies driving PVR's success in an era of digital streaming dominance, innovative enhancements to the movie-watching experience, the dynamics of urban and rural audiences, industry challenges, and the exciting expansion plans for PVR both at home and abroad. Excerpts 
Ruhail Amin
THE ENDURING ALLURE OF CINEMAS

We have witnessed a phenomenal resurgence in people going back to cinemas. What do you think explains this trend? 

Well, you know, as Aristotle said, man is a social animal. Everybody’s desire to go out, in fact, in my view, has only increased after the pandemic, because during the pandemic, people were forced to remain inside, and it was not by choice.

There was 18 months of closure. You can’t write off a strong activity like cinema-going, which has been around for hundreds of years, by just 18 months of closure. Definitely, habits did change, and people did not have any choice, because when you don’t have a choice, then you do consume content at home. Where else are you going to go? But I think when you do have a choice, then you like to consume content where you’re meant to consume it.

People’s desire to go out and watch movies is something which cannot be replaced by anything happening at home. And I have nothing against OTT, that’s a different form of entertainment. OTT is just another avatar of home entertainment. So home entertainment used to be with TV, then colour TV, then satellite TV, VHS, DVD, LD, and OTT. It has always been in existence, home entertainment. So I think that’s why people are going out and watching movies.

How have you innovated in order to enhance the cinema-going experience?

Esta historia es de la edición October 07, 2023 de BW Businessworld.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición October 07, 2023 de BW Businessworld.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE BW BUSINESSWORLDVer todo
MEMORIES & IMPRESSIONS
BW Businessworld

MEMORIES & IMPRESSIONS

Ratan Tata was an exceptional human being. He was a visionary leader, esteemed industrialist, and a humanitarian, who left an indelible mark on India and the world.

time-read
3 minutos  |
October 19, 2024
The Robotaxi Market
BW Businessworld

The Robotaxi Market

The robotaxi market is shaping up to be a high-stakes battleground as tech giants and automakers race to transform urban mobility.

time-read
1 min  |
October 19, 2024
And the Nobel Prize Goes to AI
BW Businessworld

And the Nobel Prize Goes to AI

The recent Nobel Prize T awards to AI pioneers affiliated with Google have sparked a broader conversation about Big Tech's influence on research and the limitations of traditional prize categories.

time-read
1 min  |
October 19, 2024
Ola Electrified
BW Businessworld

Ola Electrified

Once considered a trailblazer in India’s electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, Bhavish Aggarwal’s Ola Electric now faces a major accountability crisis.

time-read
1 min  |
October 19, 2024
Sharp Slide in Industrial Output on Eve of Deepavali
BW Businessworld

Sharp Slide in Industrial Output on Eve of Deepavali

India’s index of industrial production (IIP) saw a sharp reversal in August, contracting by 0.1 per cent, in stark contrast to the 4.7 per cent growth in July, mostly because of significant contractions in mining and electricity generation.

time-read
1 min  |
October 19, 2024
Heralding the Solar Era with Sustainable Electrification
BW Businessworld

Heralding the Solar Era with Sustainable Electrification

RAJEEV KASHYAP on the economics of solar power, the hurdles in scaling it, and much more

time-read
2 minutos  |
October 19, 2024
A WELL-GREASED MACHINE
BW Businessworld

A WELL-GREASED MACHINE

The OmniBook X14 laptop runs on first-generation Snapdragon X Elite, which bets big on Al-enabled productivity and battery life, but falls short when it comes to overall experience, says Deep Majumdar

time-read
4 minutos  |
October 19, 2024
DO NOT LETA HEALTH CRISIS RUIN YOUR FINANCIAL HEALTH
BW Businessworld

DO NOT LETA HEALTH CRISIS RUIN YOUR FINANCIAL HEALTH

For a family of four living in a metro, it is recommended to opt for a family floater health insurance plan with a sum insured of at least Rs 15-20 lakh

time-read
7 minutos  |
October 19, 2024
Disruption Ahead: Beyond Organisation Charts and Structures
BW Businessworld

Disruption Ahead: Beyond Organisation Charts and Structures

ALBERT EINSTEIN FAMOUSLY said, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.

time-read
3 minutos  |
October 19, 2024
Dr. Rahul Shivajirao Kadam: A Visionary Leader Blending Sustainability, Innovation, And Social Empowerment
BW Businessworld

Dr. Rahul Shivajirao Kadam: A Visionary Leader Blending Sustainability, Innovation, And Social Empowerment

We are on the stage of global warming, and these technologies not only help prevent further damage but also leave behind a better environment for future generations.

time-read
2 minutos  |
October 19, 2024