The wait is finally over. Avatar, the film that has been looked forward to with bated breath across the world, will release in paid previews in India on Thursday and as regular shows on Friday.
According to cinema owners, the paid previews will see huge crowds. “Tickets don’t really sell in advance anymore. However, there has been a heavy rush for bookings for the paid previews on Thursday, for the 3D version especially,” said Devang Sampat of the Cinemax chain of theatres.
Vishal Kapur, COO, Fun cinemas, said that since Sunday, when bookings were opened, paid preview tickets have been selling fast. “There should be occupancy of around 90% at all screens where paid previews are being shown,” he said.
Even as interest in the 3D version gains momentum, single screen theatre owners are confident that the 2D version will do well too. Manoj Desai, manager of the G7 multiplex and Maratha Mandir, said the Hindi 2D version of the film will be released in both properties, in addition to the English 2D version. “We are hoping for the success of 2012 in India to be emulated with Avatar in English and across all regional languages.”
Meanwhile, those who saw the film at a special show on Wednesday night could not stop raving about it. Filmmaker Rohan Sippy felt that with Avatar, filmmaker James Cameron has transformed the approach to filmmaking. “The film is an experience in itself. The story may have less of an emotional connect like, say, Titanic had, but excels in creating a visual impact that’s incomparable.”
Writer Robin Bhatt felt the film spoke a universal language and touched upon a lot of pertinent issues like the damage corporations are causing to the environment. But what left him most impressed was Cameron’s vision. “Never has a film so stunningly beautiful been made. Avatar has the ability to change cinema as we know it,” Bhatt said.
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