SPI Cinemas

SPI Cinemas is an Indian multiplex chain and film production company originally owned by the SPI Group, headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The company began operating multiplexes in Chennai, and eventually expanded to several states in India. SPI is often lauded for its premium quality and inexpensive pricing.[1][2] Its theatres, primarily PVR Sathyam, are often used by filmmakers for film premieres and audio launch events.[3] Popcorn served at SPI Cinemas has received considerable praise from film goers and the media.[4] In August 2018, PVR Cinemas had completed the acquisition of SPI Cinemas.

Not to be confused with SP Cinemas.
SPI Cinemas
IndustryEntertainment
FoundedApril 1974 (1974-04)
Headquarters
Royapettah, Chennai
,
India
Number of locations
7
Area served
India
Key people
Kiran Reddy (MD)
ParentPVR Cinemas
Websitewww.spicinemas.in www.pvrcinemas.com

SPI is notable for being the first multiplex operator in India to equip its screens with the Dolby Atmos and Auro 11.1 sound systems.[5][6]

History

Sathyam Cinemas was originally named the "Royal Theatre Complex" and was built by Raja from Venkatagiri in April 1974.[7][8] With a capacity of 1,255 seats, it was the largest multiplex built in Chennai at the time.[9]

Kiran Reddy, the current CEO of SPI Group, revealed in a 2012 interview with The Hindu that Sathyam Cinemas was acquired by his family "from someone" in the 1980s. It was acquired for real estate purposes with no intention of continuing the theatre business. He claimed, "The intent was to demolish the Sathyam building. The theatre wasn't a viable business if you looked at the value of the land." However, when he got involved in the business, the family had made several improvements to the theatre.[10] Reddy had taken over the business in 1999 and continued developing the theatre, adding three more screens and refurbishing the existing three.[11]

In 2009, SPI Cinemas established itself as a film production company, producing its first film, Thiru Thiru Thuru Thuru.[12] SPI Cinemas is one of the key movie distributors in Tamil Nadu and has forayed into the music business with Think Music to distribute Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam movie soundtracks via digital media and Purplenote to distribute non-movie contemporary music.[13]

Acquisition by PVR Cinemas

In August 2018, PVR Cinemas had completed the acquisition of SPI Cinemas.[14] In August 2019, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) New Delhi-branch approved the amalgamation of SPI Cinemas into PVR with effect from the appointed date of 17 August 2018, PVR said in the exchange filing.[15][16] At the time of acquisition, PVR Cinemas mentioned that they will start re-branding SPI Cinemas' properties outside of Tamil Nadu as PVR in a phased manner. Also all future projects will be branded as PVR. This includes the state of Tamil Nadu as well. As of January 2021, PVR has integrated all of SPI properties with itself and started rebranding the cinemas as PVR. The SPI cinemas website and mobile app is now a cloned version of PVR website/app and the customers will be able to book movie tickets for SPI screens in both SPI and PVR Cinemas Website.[17][18] All the S2 and thecinema properties will be completely rebranded as PVR in the near future and only Sathyam, Escape and Palazzo names will be retained. PVR has already replaced all the signboards and beverage containers within the SPI properties with PVR name.

Locations
State/TerritoryCityTheatre NameTheatre LocalityNumber of ScreensRef.
Tamil NaduChennaiSathyam CinemasRoyapettah6
Escape CinemasExpress Avenue, Royapettah8[19]
S2 PeramburSpectrum Mall, Perambur5
S2 TheyagarajaOld Theyagaraja Talkies, Thiruvanmiyur2
Palazzo CinemasThe Forum Vijaya, Vadapalani9 (including one IMAX)[20]
CoimbatoreThe CinemaBrookefields Mall, Krishnaswamy Road6[21]
PuducherryPondicherryThe CinemaProvidence Mall5[22]

References
  1. "Hollywood praise for Sathyam Cinemas!". Behindwoods. 31 October 2012. Archived from the original on 20 June 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  2. Vijayan, Naveena (15 April 2014). "Luxe Takes Movie Experience Beyond the Conventional". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  3. Srinivasan, Lata (1 November 2012). "Ang Lee praises Sathyam Cinemas". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  4. Srinivasan, Sudhir (14 May 2015). "Chennai's corny tradition". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  5. Almeida, Aaron (5 December 2012). "Dolby launches its Dolby Atmos audio platform in India". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  6. Mead, Bill (25 November 2013). "Technology in review: Asia embraces digital, 3D and immersive sound". Film Journal International. Archived from the original on 25 December 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  7. Ramakrishnan, N. (27 December 2013). "Chennai has a big role to play". Business Line. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  8. "Sathyam Cinemas Selects Qube for All Screens of Its Flagship Multiplex at Chennai, India". Business Wire. 27 June 2007. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  9. Menon, Nitya (27 November 2013). "The changing scene". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 April 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  10. Muthalaly, Shonali (23 February 2012). "Reddy Made In Chennai". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  11. Pillai, Sreedhar (15 December 2006). "And now, the multiplex mania". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 17 December 2006.
  12. Shah, Shalini (7 August 2009). "A first for Sathyam". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 April 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  13. "About Us". Archived from the original on 29 April 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  14. "PVR completes acquisition of 71.6% stake of SPI Cinemas". The Economic Times. 17 August 2018. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  15. "SPI cinemas amalgamated with PVR effective 17 August 2018" (PDF). PVR Website. 23 August 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  16. "SPI Cinemas Amalgamation". Business Today. 17 October 2019. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  17. "PVR Le Reve Cinemas, Globus Mall, Bandra, Mumbai, Maharashtra". Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  18. "PVR Haseen Cinemas, Bhiwandi, Mumbai, Maharashtra". Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  19. Frederick, Prince (18 June 2013). "Let the show begin". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  20. Subramanian, Karthik (3 November 2014). "The long wait for IMAX". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  21. Palaniappan, V. S. (6 December 2011). "The Cinema @ Brookefields opens tomorrow". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 26 July 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  22. SPI Cinemas (11 November 2017). "The wait is almost over! The Cinema is all set to open its door to the city of Puducherry. Online bookings open at 11am tomorrow. Log onto www.spicinemas.in or download the SPI Cinemas app now!". Facebook. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
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