Guru First Indian Film To Make U.S. Debut As E-Cinema
The digital revolution transforming everyday life is so rapid that, at times, even the more mundane consequences can cause astonishment. VHS tapes and VCRs are disappearing from sight, for instance, and will most likely become as obsolete as vinyl records and turntables in the not-too-distant future. So it was just a matter of time before digital cinema arrived on the scene and raised the experience of film watching to a new level.
Real Image Media Technologies has taken a lead in the spread of E-cinema. Earlier this year, Mani Ratnam's Guru became the first Indian film to be screened at an American theater upgraded with Qube, the technology developed by Senthil Kumar and Jayendra Panchapakesan, founders of Chennai-based Real Image. In partnership with Intel, they're popularizing E-cinema across India.
About 350 Indian theaters have already gone digital, according to one source, and the number will rise to 2500 by the end of this year. Stateside, Qube Cinema has so far reached 50 landmark theaters, but the number is likely to rise by six times. The benefits of digital cinema are lower distribution costs and superior image quality. Also, piracy can be prevented because the film is electronically transmitted.
Enjoyed reading Khabar magazine? Subscribe to Khabar and get a full digital copy of this Indian-American community magazine.
