Mumbai:
Rohan Sippy's new venture Dum Maaro Dum, starring Abhishek Bachchan, Bipasha Basu and Rana Daggubati, which claims to be India's first feature film to use Dolby Surround 7.1, has an uphill task ahead as very few theatres and multiplexes in the city have such an upgraded sound system.
According to sound experts, viewers might not be able get their money's worth when they visit theatres to enjoy the dramatic thriller, set amidst the beaches, side streets, and waves of Goa.
Speaking to reporters, Shyam Lala, owner of Audio Energy company, which installs and maintains sound systems in theatres across the city said, "There are very few cinemas that are equipped with technology as sophisticated as the 7.1 Dolby Surround system. Most theatres are equipped with the Dolby 5.1 surround system. Of course, the movie can be screened using this system. But the sound effects will not be as state-of-the-art as the moviemakers had promised."
"Moreover, this system is more suitable for theatres that have limited seats. This too is an obstacle, as most of our multiplexes are 500 seaters," he added.
Shyam Lala explained that the effect of the technology would be more pronounced in an enclosed room, preferably a mini-theatre.
In Mumbai, out of the 150-odd cinemas, only about 20 to 25 cinemas have installed the advanced 7.1 system. "We are going to screen the movie. We are not aware of the 7.1 surround system, nor do we have enough information about how the technology should be operated. We have a 5.1 Dolby system, and the movie will be screened using the same," said Rakesh Sharma, general manager, Cinemax Sion.
Another sound engineer from Vile Parle, who requested anonymity, said, "The producer's desire to create an impressive experience for Dum Maaro Dum viewers might fall flat on its face. The intention of the producer was to involve the audience in the action to such a degree that they would become part of it. However, the sound systems fitted in most of the cinemas is not equipped to create such an effect," he said.
The good news is that most of the PVR, Cinemax and Big Cinemas movie halls in Mumbai and Pune are equipped with the sound system, and will offer viewers the complete auditory experience of the film.
According to sound experts, viewers might not be able get their money's worth when they visit theatres to enjoy the dramatic thriller, set amidst the beaches, side streets, and waves of Goa.
Speaking to reporters, Shyam Lala, owner of Audio Energy company, which installs and maintains sound systems in theatres across the city said, "There are very few cinemas that are equipped with technology as sophisticated as the 7.1 Dolby Surround system. Most theatres are equipped with the Dolby 5.1 surround system. Of course, the movie can be screened using this system. But the sound effects will not be as state-of-the-art as the moviemakers had promised."
"Moreover, this system is more suitable for theatres that have limited seats. This too is an obstacle, as most of our multiplexes are 500 seaters," he added.
Shyam Lala explained that the effect of the technology would be more pronounced in an enclosed room, preferably a mini-theatre.
In Mumbai, out of the 150-odd cinemas, only about 20 to 25 cinemas have installed the advanced 7.1 system. "We are going to screen the movie. We are not aware of the 7.1 surround system, nor do we have enough information about how the technology should be operated. We have a 5.1 Dolby system, and the movie will be screened using the same," said Rakesh Sharma, general manager, Cinemax Sion.
Another sound engineer from Vile Parle, who requested anonymity, said, "The producer's desire to create an impressive experience for Dum Maaro Dum viewers might fall flat on its face. The intention of the producer was to involve the audience in the action to such a degree that they would become part of it. However, the sound systems fitted in most of the cinemas is not equipped to create such an effect," he said.
The good news is that most of the PVR, Cinemax and Big Cinemas movie halls in Mumbai and Pune are equipped with the sound system, and will offer viewers the complete auditory experience of the film.
