Infamously bad multiplexes. Review on Fame Adlabs - Andheri - Mumbai

Fame is infamously the consistently bad multiplex chain in Mumbai. I have visited most of their properties and they continue to annoy me.

Screen size: The screen sizes in India are on a shrinking trend. A crap digital cinema technique has lowered the costs for all intermediaries but their cheap equipment has forced the cinema hall owners to shrink the screen size. This is the biggest irritant for me; how can you enjoy an epic like Harry Potter finale or Batman Trilogy on a laptop sized screen? Fame’s screens are small and dull. Even other players like Cinemax, BIG Cinemas have small screens; but at least they are bright. Only PVR Cinemas has consistently good quality screens (although they are still not big enough); and that is because they use their own high quality projection systems instead of some cheap low quality third-party equipment. By the way, the real ‘big screen’ I have seen so far was in DT Cinemas, Gurgaon. They had a real huge screen in one of their auditoriums; I don’t know if it still exists.

Ambiance: Again, the worst of the lot. The chairs are worse than the BEST bus seats; someone needs to explain them what exactly a ‘recliner’ seat means. The AC is always set at a suboptimal level (to save electricity expenses) and I think that for the last 30 minutes of the film they may be simply switching it off! A mentally retarded staff which has no idea of English and Hindi languages adds to the frustration.

Snacks: This is the most ‘beggarish’ multiplex chain. Right from the booking window, their staff will be begging you to take their combo coupons. They might as well ask their staff to roam around with a begging bowl! It is really annoying. I don’t care if the food items are overpriced (which they are; by the way), but they never have a quality option. There is no combo for mineral water or fruit juice; how the F do you expect me to consume the combo of 500 ml heavily sugared carbonated water with the dripping in oil samosas or with the cheese overdose in the burgers/sandwiches? They also seize the water bottles and tiffin boxes in patrons’ bags at the entry gate (never happened to me as I never carry these; but I have seen it happening for sure). To sum it up, this place should be avoided like a plague infected town.

-- Finno