The Neuplex complex is located in an entertainment centre, called “The Place”, which is situated in Khayaban-e-Shaheen. The complex has five theatre halls - 270 seats in cinema 1, 360 seats in cinema 2, 275 seats in cinema 3, 148 seats in cinema and cinema 5, which is a luxury cinema, has 48 seats. DESIGN : ESSA MALIK
For moviegoers in Karachi, Phase VIII in the Defence Housing Authority is all set to become the ‘It’ destination with the launch of the Neuplex complex on Thursday, which claims to house the biggest screens in the country.
“We are all striving to make it to the big screen,” said Faisal Rafi, the music producer turned cinema installation consultant as he walked through the halls of what is said to be Pakistan’s biggest cinema complex. Rafi’s transition into the cinema business is fairly recent - till a year back he was known for guiding people through his studio where one could listen to the unfinished tracks of the likes of Strings and Karavan.
The Neuplex complex is located in an entertainment centre, called “The Place”, which is situated in Khayaban-e-Shaheen. The complex has five theatre halls - 270 seats in cinema 1, 360 seats in cinema 2, 275 seats in cinema 3, 148 seats in cinema and cinema 5, which is a luxury cinema, has 48 seats.
According to Rafi, the standard cinema seats are of 18 inches but they have chosen to go for a 21-inch-seat which why where there could have been four to five hundred seats in the hall, there are a lot less.
“Experience is the key here,” he explained. “We could have easily stacked up people but that would have been tiring, especially when a major chunk of the movies come from Bollywood which are three hours long.”
Purely movies
Unlike the usual trend of situating multiplexes within shopping malls, Neuplex has no shopping area - just five screens along with food outlets. The projection systems are all digital 2k with cinema 1,2 and 4 also offering film projection. All five halls support 3D projection. The screens in Nueplex range from 50 to 60 Ft and are the first one piece silver screens of this size ever installed in Pakistan.
The project was initiated by Tariq and Jamil Baig, one of the largest government contractors and infrastructure developers, and for the last one and half year Faisal Rafi and Ali Diwan have been working as the consultants for this project.
“Jamil and Tariq had the vision of the best cinema complex in Pakistan,” said Rafi as he checked the projection system. “In terms of space, location and experience, and with the amount of time, money and skill invested in this project, the experience will be of the very next level.”
Setting a benchmark
“Our cinemas 1, 2 and 3 have the largest cinema screens in Pakistan. By that I mean even bigger then Nishat. They are all spread edge to edge” says Rafi.
Eugenetek, who are one of Asia’s largest Cinema Integration Companies, was hired for the cinema installations at Neuplex, and Diwan and Rafi represent the company’s Pakistani counterpart. They also represent Christie Digital, the world’s largest digital imaging company and a powerhouse behind the digital cinema revolution. The Eugenetek Korea and Eugenetek Pakistan teams put together Neuplex with teams from Poland, Malaysia, Korea and Italy flying in to make it a true international effort.
“The real achievement is that we are the first Christie Digital cinema in the country. Too put it in layman’s words, it is simply the best digital projection available in the market” elaborates Rafi.
Diwan was just as enthusiastic about the venture. “Everything down to the viewing angle and decibel level of the seats in Nueplex was calculated before the first brick was laid,” he told The Express Tribune. “The cinema has ample parking space, best franchises in town in terms of food and the best audio and visual experience along with the selection of films that our audience wants to watch.”
When asked if the prices would be jacked up later, Rafi replied in the negative. “People have to realise that we are not competing with anyone and that is the charm of the multiplex culture. Whether it’s Defence or Gulshan, every vicinity needs a multiplex and we are just doing that,” said Rafi, hoping that this latest complex would trigger a multiplex culture in Karachi.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2013.
COMMENTS (11)
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@pakbollywoodlover: I agree with you that in India, such Cineplex are common, particularly in Mumbai, where on each area there is atleast one Cineplex with 3 to 5 cinemas because of their population and demand. The tickets rates are also very attractive even for a common man unlike in our Pakistan. Lower the tickets rates, higher the demand. In Pakistan, due to high rate of ticket (Rs.500/-) even high-ups hesitate to visit with family and the cinema is not full packed and half or more in empty, hence loss in revenue. If the tickets are, say Rs.150/-, then each and every shows goes house-full and a movie can run instead of a week, 4/5 weeks or so.
@maira: I am in total agreement with you. The ticket rate should be lower, so that a common Pakistani can afford to visit such good and attractive cinemas. I think it should be 200/- for the first 5 rows and 250 for another 5 rows and like that, so that more and more Pakistanis could be able to visits with their family. Besides, a subsidize rate of ticket should be made for odd timing shows like morning 10.00 a.m. and 12.00 noon shows, and during night 11.00 p.m. and 1.00 a.m. shows, where tickets should be 100/- or 150/-
It is just a start. Pakistan has the potential to become a power hub of culture if we focus our attention to that. How quickly we are rebuilding and redefining film making and cinema culture shows our Resilience. When we focus on cricket, we get world cup... when we focus on atom, we become one of the few nuclear powers and when we become negative and focus on fights, we become headache for the world. . We need to focus on growing economically and culturally and fight against miscreants in our country. . @ All Why not ignore some jealous guy (neighbour?) with a fake name and focus on the positive?
@pakbollywoodlover
Stop chirping here and get a life
@palbollywoodlover: so if you live in USA, and teach in India over internet, then do not ever come to Pakistan my brother. We have no need for you.
@palbollywoodlover: and really no need to mention which school you send your kids to on public forums! you end up sounding frustrated about your life. But seriously, living in USA couldn't teach you that much?!
@khan.........i already live in USA and teaching my students in an indian school....so i got all that knowledge from indian friends out there.........besides i have no shame if u ask pakistani people here for even in taxi driver interview they will say they are "Indian"..I have considered myself from the race of aryans and maurya who got converted by some people who invaded my country...sorry to bother u my brother..but accept the truth..
@pakbollywoodlover go to india then..
What u are calling theatres.......these type of theatres are in Gali-Muhalla''s in India.....check for PVR,Funcinemas,Cineplex,cinemac,inox...etc..etc...here are the real theatres,,,,,,some of best in world......