Theatre to nab real villains

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sreepadmanabha, one of the oldest and prominent movie theatres in the capital city, has always ensured that it undergoes changes, keeping in pace with the changing trends in film-watching, even if it means shelling out lakhs of rupees.The theatre management is all set to install infrared (IR) cameras in the movie hall in a bid to check the trouble created by miscreants during the screening of films.The theatre management has decided to implement the camera system following a series of attacks from miscreants among the viewers during the past few days. Miscreants had struck twice within a week, on October 18 and 23, causing a huge loss to the  theatre.According to Gireesh Chandran, the managing partner of Sreepadmanabha, it is for the first time  that such a system is being implemented in a theatre in the state. As many as 16 IR cameras would be installed, covering all points of the movie hall. The theatre has already employed closed circuit camera surveillance system on the theatre premises, he said."The move would be a great relief to those who bring along their families," Gireesh added.Also, in an attempt to improve their service, the theatre management has decided to set up an e-mail ID which would be displayed on the screen. Viewers can forward their complaints to this e-mail and solution would be provided within 48 hours, said Gireesh, according to whom this system is also a first-of-its-kind venture in the state.The theatre was reopened after renovation works of over Rs 60 lakh in March 2011. Besides installing the most modern facilities, the theatre was also furnished with high quality seats that equalled the standards of multiplex theatres. The quality of the seats was the same for viewers in both balcony and  first class, unlike other theatres.Interestingly, the miscreants struck just two days before the Theatre Certification Committee squad was to visit the theatre as part of the project of grading of theatres launched by Minister for Sports and Film K B Ganesh Kumar.The second attack occurred on Sunday, when a group of four youths wantonly destroyed more seats. Four youths were also nabbed by the Fort Police based on a complaint registered by the theatre authorities. The accused told the police that they had committed the crime under the influence of alcohol.