Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani launched Picture Time, India’s first mobile digital movie theatre, in Amethi on the occasion of the 70th Republic Day on 26 January.
The minister also interacted with the audience via video conferencing and talked about the movie Uri, which was screened on the occasion.
“The PM talked about Digital India; it has become a reality in Amethi today. All of you will see a film which is based on the surgical strikes,” she said.
Uri is based on the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian armed forces across the LoC in 2016.
Speaking on the occasion Picture Time founder and CEO Sushil Chaudhary said, “Picture Time is taking cinema to doorsteps without compromising on cinematic experience. It is ensuring that piracy is fought and people are able to enjoy good quality cinema.”
He also thanked the Union minister for the initiative to bring Picture Time to the people of Amethi.
The mobile movie hall is currently the only cinema theatre in the city of Amethi. A talkie, Vimal Palace, located off Dhammaur-Sultanpur road, used to screen Bollywood blockbusters such as Gadar. It was closed around five years ago and was then converted into a parking spot.
People of Amethi used to travel to neighbouring Sultanpur to watch the latest movies.
Picture Time was established in October 2015 to ensure that people in rural areas have access to good quality entertainment at affordable prices.
Tickets are priced in the affordable range of Rs 50 to Rs 80. Each theatre has a capacity of 120-150 people and has features like HD interactive screens, live chat function, and 5.1 Dolby surround sound.
Picture Time has 25 mobile digiplex cinema halls across Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.