Jamshedpur: The city’s movie-going map is changing — and for many film lovers, the big screen is now closer to home.With new multiplexes opening in the city and adjoining areas, audiences, particularly youngsters and families, have more options to catch the latest releases without spending time travelling across Jamshedpur. The shift is also helping revive a cinema culture that had weakened with the closure of several single-screen theatres.Jamshedpur once had more than a dozen single-screen cinemas. Many have shut over the years, leaving multiplexes to fill the gap with modern facilities, comfortable seating and multiple show timings.The latest addition is a 99-seater multiplex in Adityapur — the first facility of its kind in Seraikela-Kharsawan district. It has been drawing viewers from Adityapur, Gamharia, Kandra and nearby areas, many of whom earlier travelled to Bistupur or the NH-33 corridor for new releases.“Earlier, people used to crowd theatres in Bistupur or along NH-33. Now, a modern cinema is available close to home. The location is very convenient for people living and working in Adityapur,” said resident Bimal Ray.For Gamharia resident Durga Prasad, the theatre has also made family outings easier. “I have come with my parents to watch the 12:15 pm show of ‘Drishyam: The Conclusion’,” he said on Saturday.A multiplex that opened in Golmuri last year has similarly attracted strong footfall from Sakchi, Telco, Govindpur and Birsanagar. For locals, proximity has made spontaneous movie plans possible.“Earlier, I had to convince my parents or brother to take me across the city. Many times, I missed the shows. Now, with a multiplex just half a km from home, I can walk to the theatre,” said Sweta Sidhu, a UPSC aspirant from Golmuri.A mini-multiplex has also been proposed in Sonari. With audience response encouraging, industry representatives said Jamshedpur may have room for more screens — and more premium movie experiences.
