Carnival Cinemas was a multiplex chain based in India. It is a part of Carnival Group India, a business chain headed by Shrikant Bhasi.
Growth and Expansion
Carnival Cinemas' first theatre in Angamaly was built on the top floor of a bus terminal complex.[1] Further the company expanded to Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and eventually to the rest of India.
There were plans to double the screen count to 1000 screens by 2023.[6]
In the late 2010s, Carnival Cinemas also expanded their branding outside India to operate a few locations across Singapore.
Decline
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Carnival Cinemas was unable to continue operations in a sustainable manner and ended in debt.[7] This has forced closure of operations in many cities and several petitions against the cinema chain for insolvency.[8][9]
End of Era
All Carnival Cinemas locations across India have been permanently closed , marking the end of the brand's operations nationwide. Several former Carnival Cinemas properties have since re-opened under new management, including chains such as INOX-PVR, MovieMax and Miraj Cinemas . Additionally, some venues have been taken over by developers who have relaunched them as independent, standalone cinemas under new names.
Its official website is also non-operational. However, with the same brand, Singapore's Carnival Cinemas is still open on its website i.e. www.carnivalcinemas.sg for its last remaining location at Golden Mile Tower.
Initiatives
Carnival Cinemas, had started initiative, direct from farm to home delivery, under brand name "Farmse Fresh", to support as livelihood source for their staff during Covid lockdown.[10][7][11][12]
