IMAX and Miraj Cinemas are Reviving the Iconic IMAX Wadala Theatre in Mumbai; Relaunching it with ‘IMAX with Laser’ System

Miraj Cinemas and the IMAX Corporation this week announced a new partnership that would bring three new ‘IMAX with Laser’ theatres in India.

This deal marks the first-ever collaboration between the two companies and IMAX’s largest expansion in India in five years. Miraj Cinemas will add three new IMAX systems to key locations across India, including one in Mumbai – set to open in 2024 – one in Jaipur, and a third location to be determined at a later date.

As part of this deal, Miraj Cinemas are reviving IMAX Wadala, the first IMAX screen to launch in India, back in 2003.

IMAX Wadala had long been my favorite place to watch English action films, but over time I simply stopped going there. The theatre has seen a lot of neglect in its last years, probably due to its geographic location. It changed ownership multiple times, going into the hands of Anil Ambani-owned BIG Cinemas in late 2000s. BIG Cinemas was acquired by Carnival Cinemas in 2014, which took over its operations and tried to keep it running. However, the screen, the IMAX projectors, and the speakers were ill-maintained and affected the overall movie experience. The theatre ultimately ceased operations in 2023.

I’m excited to see what Miraj Cinemas does with it. I’m yet to watch a film in a theatre equipped with IMAX with Laser system, so I’m definitely looking forward to this launch.