By Ramesh Mathew/Staff Reporter
One of the two cinemas at West End Park reopened yesterday, with a hike of QR5 in the ticket price, following a one-month closure for renovation.
An official of Qatar Bahrain International Cinema Company, which operates the hall, told Gulf Times that their company expected continued patronage from the country’s film lovers in the future.
For the reopening, Malayalam film Fireman is being screened at 2.15pm, 4.30pm, 9.30pm and 11.45pm. At 6.45 pm, Tamil film Kaaki Sattai is being screened. “This will be the screening schedule until March 11,” he said.
Contrary to what was informed earlier, the theatre management decided to increase the ticket price by QR5. Describing the hike as “very modest”, the official claimed that even at the new rate of QR20 per ticket, it was not profitable for them to run the show as distributors considered it “too low a rate” for new films.
The official said the company would explore the possibility of introducing new marketing strategies to attract bigger crowds on weekdays.
Meanwhile, movie-goers appealed to the theatre management not to further increase ticket prices as anything above QR20 would be beyond their capacity.
Asked when the other screen would reopen, the official said it would happen “as soon as possible” as a few more formalities had to be completed.
The complex has two more halls that are expected to be functional shortly. The company also operates screens at City Center Doha and Villaggio.
