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No end to target killings in Balochistan
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Cine Star is doing for Township what DHA did for the Defence lot, and how
By Naila Inayat
Entertainment is one essential part of Lahori lifestyle which for the past decade or so has been confined to dining-out or, at best, visiting the latest shopping outlet in town. Whereas earlier it used to be going to cinemas with their magnanimous halls, the secluded family boxes, the heavily draped projection screens and, of course, popcorns and drinks. Cinema was tantamount to a fun excursion, if not for the love of movies. It 'rocked our boats', to put it proverbially. Yes, the conditions of the cinemas deteriorated over the years -- the walls were now stained with betel-juice and stank of all things foul, the seat cushions came off variously, and air conditioning became nonexistent (actually, it was never fixed) -- all of which served to shoo the crowds away. The 2007 opening of DHA, touted to be Lahore's first cinema house -- famously built on modern lines to suit international standards -- changed things for the better. We saw a return to cinemas. With Cine Star, Township's answer to DHA, the trend is sure to pick.
The road leading to Cine Star is a not-so-smooth drive -- construction work is being carried out on both sides that is not a very fine first impression. You meet the guiding signs of the cinema house variously, as you hit the Model Town link road. This part of the city is rather underdeveloped, compared maybe to DHA which is already established as a posh area with its numerous restaurants and shopping plazas and, now, the much-talked-about cinema, also called DHA.
A project of Ch Faraz Ahmed, Cine Star boasts a capacity of 581 seats. Its décor deserves a special mention: in the lobby you are greeted by a unique array of life-sized cut-out posters of renowned Bollywood and Hollywood actors. Our very own Reema is there, too, couched next to none other than Julia Roberts and Shah Rukh Khan.
The walls are tastefully done, covered with deep maroon-hued velvet tapestry and snuggly chairs to match. The surround sound system and the air conditioning are all state-of-the-art and the family viewers are going to feel comfortable in a no-smoke, beautifully scented environment. Mercifully, for all the virtues of the cinema house, the ticket is not heavily priced and is actually less than what it is at DHA and Sozo.
It would be unfair to talk about Cine Star and not mention its staff, a group of polite and very presentable young men who are willing to help you if you have any queries or issues.
For Lahorites in general and the residents of Township and adjacent areas in particular, Cine Star is a welcome addition, as it saves them the trouble of having to go all the way to the Metropoles and Gulistans and Princes on the very crowded Abbott Road miles away.
The makers of Cine Star seem to have taken a cue from the very successful DHA. If the latter was launched amidst great fanfare with the premiere of the money-grossing Khuda Key Liye, Cine Star recently had its inauguration with a showing of Kambakht Ishq, a Bollywood blockbuster by all standards. If only they put themselves on cyberspace and made use of the elitist, e-booking trend.
Cine Star also needs to do something about its parking lot. You may not fall in love with the place at the very first sight, rest assured you won't leave the theatre hall without a sense of having got your money's worth --'paisa vasool', in popular terms.
The News;Shehr :Sunday,July 12, 2009
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