By Rafay Mahmood
Karachi: Bachelors in Business Administration (BBA) students at the Saheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST) have decided to revive the concept of drive-in cinemas in Karachi.
As part of a class project, the students will recreate a functional drive-in cinema for two days (May 8 and May 9) and screen two of Bollywood and Hollywood’s greatest hits, Andaaz Apna Apna and Gladiator, on a standard cinema screen in the empty ground in front of the National Sailing Club at Bilawal Chowrangi. The semester-6 class project is led by Saba Aawan and Sohaib Khan, who are working with a total of 30 students divided into teams for logistics, marketing, finance and strategy. “This is a assignment for our marketing management class and a lot of ideas came to our mind. The concept of a drive-in theater, however, was unique and exclusive and seemed like an event that people would like to attend,” Sohaib Khan, the project coordinator, told The News.
A lot of obstacles came up once the group decided to go ahead with the project, but it is ready now for audiences, Khan said. “We had thought of screening films in an auditorium but nowadays everyone has a surround system at home and we felt it was pointless to call them over to an auditorium for something that they could do at home. What was really required was the unique experience of a drive-in cinema – something that our generation has not seen here,” he said.
The group has kept in mind security at the venue, and was also mindful of the fact that a lot of capital and space were required for the project. “If you have the motivation, however, you can achieve big things,” Khan explained.
“We had some problems a week ago – the venue was changed because the government cited security issues; and a lot of people were asking us to rethink about the project. At the end of the day, however, the residents of Karachi are starved for entertainment. If you provide them with an experience which is unique enough, they will love it!”
A number of fast food chains and other food outlets have also agreed to set up stalls in the premises, and wooden benches are being arranged for those who cannot come in cars. “The old drive-in cinema, which is now Millennium Mall in Gulistan-e-Jauher, used to have small movable speakers which could fit in a car. For the convenience of our audience, however, we have spread a large number of speaker all over the venue, so that they don’t miss the movies regardless of where they go,” Khan said.
The group is very optimistic about the project and believes that talking about the so -called “revival of cinema” is not going to take local cinema anywhere. “Simply lamenting the lack of cinema culture here is not going to accomplish anything. You have to get up and try to do something yourself. That’s what we’re doing on a student level,” Khan said.
The screening space is spread over more then 1.5 acres. The initial investment was made by the group itself, but this was later covered by sponsors who took an interest in the project. The group is also willing to take the project forward for a longer time if a government or private investor takes a lasting interest. “Setting up a drive-in cinema is not rocket science. All you need is an investor who can put in the money; then you need a good sound and projection system, and you’re done,” Khan said.
Tickets for the first two screenings, meanwhile, cost Rs350.
Source: The News
