Multiplex owners are sure people will now flock to the theatres; expect to recover losses incurred during the recent strike and because of IPL

Even as millions of Indians are heartbroken after India's ouster from the T20 World Cup in England, multiplex owners in the country aren't complaining.

According to multiplex owners, India's defeat augers well for them. "With India out of the tournament, we are sure to have more people flocking to the multiplexes.

IT'S ALL OVER: India's ouster from the T20 World Cup in England augers well for the multiplex owners in the country. The quality releases every week will bring viewers back to theatres.

It helps that there are quality releases lined up every week. I'm sure interest in good cinema will bring viewers back to theatres," said Devang Sampat, senior vice president of Cinemax India.

The group was planning to screen T20 matches, but has cancelled the idea because of a diminishing interest and low footfalls.
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With the two-month-long strike between multiplexes and producers firmly behind them and India's exit from the World Cup, managers are confident of recovering the losses they incurred during the IPL season last month and the standoff.

"Earlier, we enjoyed a 70 to 90 per cent turnout during weekends and 50 per cent during weekdays. However, during the strike we incurred losses of nearly 50 per cent.

Now, with India's exit, the crowd has increased by 30 per cent and is likely to increase further," said Hitendra G, general manager, City Pride in Pune that has three centres in Kothrud, Satara Road and Mangala.

May was a bleak month for multiplexes in Bangalore as well. "Last month was bad for us because of the IPL. We are banking on the new releases to make some money," said Hidayath, floor manager, PVR Bangalore.

Upcoming releases

June 18: Paying Guest, X-Men Origins: Wolverine
July 3: Kambakkth Ishq
July 31: Love Aaj Kal
August 14: Aladin, Kaminey, Life Partner

'We wish India had won'

I'm feeling sad about India's loss in the T20 World Cup. Hopefully, people will get over their depression by watching movies, especially Paying Guest. The movie will surely cheer them.

Subhash Ghai, whose movie Paying Guest releases this Friday

My film is releasing five days after the T20 World Cup gets over. So, India's exit does not affect the release of my film. But its sad that India is out of the tournament.

Kabir Khan, director u00a0of New York