Post PM Modi's Kashmir speech, Carnival Cinemas to open 30 movie screens in Jammu & Kashmir

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday made his first address to the nation following the momentous move by his government earlier in the week to scrap Section 370 pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir thereby integrating the state with India like never before, and also its bifurcation into two Union Territories - J&K and Ladakh.

In his address on Thursday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the cinema industry to prioritize on setting up the theatres in the union territory. For those unaware, in Jammu and Kashmir culture of cinema got banned years back. The last famous theatre in Srinagar was Palladium in the 1980s. 

READ | PM Modi Urges Bollywood, Telugu, Tamil Filmmakers To Shoot Films In J&K, Give Priority To Setting Up Theatres

Post Narendra Modi's speech on glorifying cinema in J&K, Carnival Cinemas, led by Dr Shrikant Bhasi, one of the fastest-growing and leading multiplex chains, on Friday announced their expansion plans.

"Thanks to the bold step by the current government, we are looking out to open atleast 30 screrns in JnK and 5 screens in Ladakh," said Mr PV Sunil, MD, Carnival Cinemas.

Coming back to PM Modi's speech, he said: "There was a time when Kashmir was the favorite destination of Bollywood filmmakers. There was hardly any film that wasn't shot in Kashmir at that time. Once the normalcy in Kashmir is restored. I am confident that in future even international films will be shot there. Employment opportunities will grow for the local people. I especially urge the Hindi, Tamil, and Telegu film fraternity to once again look at Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh for shooting locations."

READ | FULL SPEECH: PM Modi Calls Jammu & Kashmir "The Crown Of India", Explains All Facets Of Article 370's Abrogation