PVR INOX Launches Low-Cost 'Smart Screens' Format, Targets 300-City Expansion Across Tier 2 and Tier 3 India

PVR INOX, India's largest cinema exhibition chain, has introduced a new low-cost screening format called Smart Screens, designed to bring theatrical movie-going experiences to smaller towns and cities across the country. The company plans to roll out the format across 300 cities, with a focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets.

The Smart Screens format will offer tickets priced 30–35% lower than standard PVR INOX multiplexes, making cinema more accessible to audiences in regions where multiplex infrastructure has traditionally been limited or absent. India is one of the world's largest film-producing countries by annual output, yet large segments of its population outside major metropolitan areas have historically had limited access to modern, organized theatrical venues.

PVR INOX was formed in 2023 following the merger of PVR Ltd and INOX Leisure, creating India's largest multiplex operator by screen count. The merger consolidated two of India's most prominent cinema chains into a single entity, a combination that drew regulatory attention and required the companies to divest certain assets as a condition of approval. The combined entity operates thousands of screens across hundreds of properties nationwide and is listed on Indian stock exchanges under the ticker PVR.

The Smart Screens initiative represents the company's strategy to expand its footprint beyond major metropolitan areas and into emerging urban centers, where demand for organized entertainment venues is growing. The push into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities comes as India's cinema exhibition industry continues navigating post-pandemic recovery, with audience footfall patterns still evolving across different market tiers.