Starcity, a state-of-the-art, centrally air-conditioned theatre in the prestigious Shivaji Park area in central Mumbai, has just completed its first anniversary. Built by the well-known K Raheja Group, this theatre was the first in India to have received THX certification from LucasFilm. It opened in November 1999 with Hum Saath Saath Hain, and continues to screen Hindi films as well as English films for the morning shows.
The LucasFilm THX Theatre Alignment Program (TAP) is a comprehensive, independent quality assurance organization, dedicated to optimizing the quality of motion picture presentation in commercial theatres. There are stringent norms to be followed to get THX certification, and these begin even before a theatre is constructed. In order to determine the feasibility of a building being certified, the THX design office reviews architectural drawings and material specifications. If certain criteria are not met, recommendations are provided at the construction stage itself.
One of the most important tests conducted is the measurement of all sources that relate to a theatre's background noise. Potential noise sources include HVAC units, projectors, exhaust fans, lobbies, concession stands and transformers.
Starcity has a seating capacity of 471, making it a small and exclusive theatre. It is equipped with DTS and Dolby Digital and has a Christie SLC projector. The amplifiers belong to the Ashley FTX series and the cinema processor is a CP-500.
Speaking on the DTS format, General Manager Mukesh G Gupta said that the theatre "had a very good response to DTS. There was almost 90 per cent occupancy for Pukaar, which was shown in DTS. Pukaar fared much better than Hum Saath Saath Hain which was shown in Dolby Digital."
Starcity, a state-of-the-art, centrally air-conditioned theatre in the prestigious Shivaji Park area in central Mumbai, has just completed its first anniversary. Built by the well-known K Raheja Group, this theatre was the first in India to have received THX certification from LucasFilm. It opened in November 1999 with Hum Saath Saath Hain, and continues to screen Hindi films as well as English films for the morning shows.