New Delhi, May 10 (Agency) The National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), India’s leading disability rights organisation, in collaboration with PVR INOX, the largest and most premium cinema exhibitor in India, will co-host a special first-day first show of the film “Srikanth”. This initiative, in line with the March Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to make Indian films more inclusive, marks a significant milestone as “Srikanth” becomes the first all-inclusive Hindi film, featuring over 70 actors with disabilities in its star cast and available in accessible formats for the visually and hearing impaired. Directed by Tushar Hiranandani, “Srikanth” depicts inspiring life of Srikanth Bolla, a visually-impaired Indian industrialist and founder of Bollant Industries, portrayed by Rajkummar Rao. The movie is a powerful narrative showcasing resilience of people with disabilities. In compliance with the recent mandate by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the film is available in accessible formats for the visually- and hearing-impaired, making cinema more inclusive for all.
PVR INOX has taken proactive steps to ensure accessibility in its cinemas for the movie. With 1,600 wheelchair-friendly seats available for booking across various locations, the cinemas are equipped to accommodate patrons with disabilities. The special screening of “Srikanth” on May 10, at 1000 hours, will be a celebration of inclusivity, with reduced tickets’ price. Speaking about the partnership, Arman Ali, executive director of NCPEDP, said, “Our partnership with PVR INOX for exclusive screening of ‘Srikanth’ is a crucial moment in our mission to promote equality for people with disabilities in all spheres of life. We appreciate PVR INOX’s proactive measures in enhancing accessibility in movie content and theatre infrastructure, thereby promoting broader inclusivity…” Commenting on collaboration, Gautam Dutta, CEO of revenue and operations at PVR INOX Ltd, said, “Hosting special screening of ‘Srikanth’, India’s first all-inclusive Hindi movie featuring actors with disabilities and releasing with Audio Description for the Visually Impaired and subtitles for the Hearing Impaired, being screened in our wheelchair-friendly cinemas, is a significant milestone for us.”