Big Cinemas to launch multiplex in Chicago

Big Cinemas, a part of the Anil Ambani-led Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (R-ADAG), will launch its first multiplex in Chicago on Friday.

The multiplex, Big Cinemas-Golf Glen, is located in Niles, Chicago. It will have five screens and a premium lounge. The facility will be digitally connected to Adlabs India, enabling the films to be transferred on fibre optic cable within four to six hours instead of using physical films, a statement issued by the company said.

“The Chicago launch is in keeping with our vision to establish a strong foothold for Big Cinemas worldwide in markets with an appetite for Indian cinema,” said Anil Arjun, CEO, Adlabs Films.

“Big Cinemas has a significant presence in the US with 170 screens and accounts for 25 per cent of the box office turnover for Hindi Films and over 65 per cent for Tamil and Telugu films released in the US. This multiplex at Niles, Chicago is part of Big Cinema’s strategy to actively promote and ensure better reach of Indian movies,” he added.

The multiplex will screen a mix of Hollywood, Indian, Polish and Korean films and will have stadium seating to enable live telecasts of cricket matches and other events.

Big Cinemas-Golf Glen is also expected to have a fully equipped kitchen serving South Asian cuisine as well as a bar, which will be managed by one of Chicago’s award winning restaurants, India House.

Over 1,000 special guests are expected to attend the launch of Big Cinemas-Golf Glen multiplex on May 29, 2009.