Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava to Premiere at Maharashtra’s First Inflatable Theatre in Gadchiroli

Ziya Khan May 23, 2025Last Updated: May 23, 2025

In a groundbreaking development for Maharashtra’s remote tribal regions, mobile theatre company Picture Time has unveiled the state’s first state-of-the-art inflatable cinema hall in Gadchiroli, marking a significant milestone with the premiere screening of Chhaava, starring Vicky Kaushal. This innovative initiative brings the magic of cinema to an area that previously lacked modern film infrastructure. Gadchiroli, one of Maharashtra’s most underserved districts with over 90% of its population living in rural areas, now boasts a high-tech, fully air-conditioned inflatable theatre featuring 5.1 Dolby sound, digital projection, and 120 push-back seats.

This endeavor aims to make world-class cinema accessible to the district’s 1 million residents at an affordable ticket price of just ₹150.Directed by Laxman Utekar and produced by Dinesh Vijan, Chhaava, which tells the story of Maratha warrior Sambhaji Maharaj, was selected as the inaugural screening to ignite cultural interest and revive the habit of cinema-going in the region.The launch event, held on May 22, was attended by prominent dignitaries, including Dr. Milindji Narote (MLA, Gadchiroli Assembly Constituency), Avishyant Panda (IAS, Collector, Gadchiroli), Mr. Prashantji Waghare (BJP Zilha Adhyaksh), and Mr. Surajit Roy (COO & President, PictureTime), among others.

Following the inauguration, the cinema hall will begin regular programming with two films: Ata Thambaycha Naay (Marathi) and Kesari Veer (Hindi), starring Suniel Shetty. During the launch, Sushil Chaudhary, Founder & CEO of PictureTime, stated, “At PictureTime, our mission has always been to democratize cinema by reaching the remotest corners of India—places where the magic of the big screen has long been inaccessible. The opening of our inflatable theatre in Gadchiroli, with the screening of Chhaava, along with our recent expansion into Bommidi, Tamil Nadu, represents significant milestones in this journey.

Access to cinema transcends entertainment; it fosters inclusion, inspiration, and a shared cultural experience for every Indian, regardless of where they live. ”The inflatable theatre has been established as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with the Municipal Corporation of Gadchiroli, which will own the infrastructure, while PictureTime will handle programming and operations. Looking ahead, the programming will feature a mix of Marathi and Hindi mainstream films, alongside a commitment to showcasing works from independent filmmakers who often face challenges in theatrical distribution.