Rural cinema halls im Maharashtra have a lot to be cheerful about . They can now play the latest releases within weeks of the official release. this is possible thanks to the digitally formatted DVDs that they receive from producers/distributors such as Mukta and ADlabs.
Digital projection and play-out systems like Qube are now being introduced in the country. Print costs are saved as digital copies cost far less;Quality is comparable , if done well; and digital tapes can be played repeatedly, without the fear of wear and tear .Once digital shooting also catches up, the advantages are enormous.
The recently released bilingual (Hindi and Tamil) mumbai express has been successful in using digital technology - shooting is well projection - in the mainstream commercial cinema, the entire film has been shot digitally , prints released & projected in digital format, and only where theatres needed it, the digital version was converted to digital prints.
’’Digital cinema may be in its infancy in the country, but it is here to stay.The current practice of making movies in the film format is in its sunset years, ’’ prophesises senthil Kumar, Director of Chennai-based Real Image, technology providers in the film, video and audio market.
K.M. Suryanaryanan of Real Image says that for Mumbai Express, ’’ The digital footage was also sent to Prasad film Labs , Mumbai, to do a Reverse Telecine, which is a process of converting the digital format to film format . Once this is done the release prints for the none digital cinema (conventional Cinema) theatre can be done in the usual manner .’’
The movie Mumbai Express follows the life of a honest -to-goodness daredevil motorbike rider, Mumbai Express (played by kamal hassan). The scheme of bunch of henchman to become rich overnight and Mumbai Express contribution to the plot makes for laughs.