How Miraj Cinemas reinvented Aakash Cinema, a 1989-dated single screen theatre, as an Art Deco-inspired multiplex

When Aakash Cinema (Azadpur) opened its doors to the cinemagoers of Delhi successful 1989, the single-screen theatre with 1,000 seats witnessed a beeline of radical waiting to ticker Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Shahenshah. For astir 3 decades, it entertained generations of movie buffs, but its closure successful 2016 was concomitant to a broader inclination of single-screen cinemas struggling with the multiplex roar and changing assemblage habits. Today, arsenic it stands renamed to Miraj Cinemas, Bhuvanesh Mendiratta, managing director, Miraj Entertainment, sheds airy connected what it took to person this single-screen theatre to an Art Deco-inspired three-screen multiplex that balances the aged with the new.

After Miraj Cinemas leased the spot that was primitively established by Ravinder Singh Anand (through his institution Middle East Estate Builders) and overhauled it, the venue is present officially known arsenic Miraj Cinemas, Azadpur (at the Aakash Cinema Commercial Complex). “The thought down revamping Aakash Cinema was to springiness it a caller lease of beingness portion upgrading it with modern amenities; a broad commercialized analyzable featuring a three-screen multiplex, nutrient court, retail shops, and parking facilities. Miraj wanted to blend nostalgia with next-gen entertainment, preserving immoderate of the aged cinema’s aura,” says Bhuvanesh.

Miraj Cinemas executed the redesigning of the country implicit a span of six to 8 months. “One large situation was to equilibrium aged and caller — preserving the psyche of the aged theatre portion gathering today’s luxury expectations. The squad kept the nostalgia mostly successful the thematic plan elements, alternatively than, say, preserving aged seats oregon the aged screen. Another situation was abstraction optimisation: fitting lobbies, restrooms, and F&B areas into what was primitively conscionable a cinema hallway and foyer,” helium explains.

Aesthetically, the redesign taxable draws from Art Deco and classical cinema heritage. “There are Art Deco-inspired patterns and partition textures — a motion to the cinema’s vintage past. Expect polished marble flooring, glow-lit ceilings too. The abstraction is garnished with geometric motifs and immoderate retro-style decor pieces (mirrors, lights) to evoke the aureate property of cinema, but successful a caller way,” helium shares.

The revamp besides progressive dividing the abstraction to make 3 abstracted auditoriums with a full of 446 seats (Audi 1: 239, Audi 2: 104, Audi 3: 103). Bhuvanesh adds: “The architects/engineers had to adhd caller soundproof walls betwixt auditoriums, guarantee each surface had projection sightlines, and instal updated seating connected re-graded level slopes. One situation present is to support fantabulous acoustics and sightlines successful the new, smaller auditoriums erstwhile moving wrong the ammunition of an aged single-screen; Miraj achieved this by equipping each screens with 2K integer projection, immersive 3D, and Dolby situation sound.”

Previously, successful 2024, Miraj Cinemas had revamped Chand Cinema successful Mayur Vihar Phase 1, New Delhi, a once-popular standalone theatre, arsenic a six-screen luxury multiplex nether the caller marque Chand Miraj Cinemas. But Miraj Cinemas is lone 1 of the galore players that are looking to revive single-screen theatres, by transforming them into premium, tech-driven venues successful Delhi. Some of the examples are PVR Priya (Vasant Vihar, Delhi), an iconic 1978-dated single-screen cinema relaunched successful 2021; Vishal Cinema (Rajouri Garden, Delhi), a 1,400-seater transformed into PVR INOX Vishal, a six-screen multiplex with IMAX and 4DX successful 2023; and Chanakya Cinema (Chanakyapuri, Delhi), though not a caller revamp, it’s worthy noting that this legendary venue was demolished and rebuilt into a luxury promenade with PVR Chanakya inside.

At contiguous Miraj Cinemas is screening Jolly LLB 3, Nishaanchi, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu nary Yaiba Infinity Castle and Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi. Tickets for these tin beryllium booked via Miraj’s website oregon apps and done third-party ticketing platforms, arsenic the multiplex is present afloat operational.