The entrance to INOX (South City). Picture by B. Halder

Book yourself a seat at INOX, South City, this weekend and don’t forget to try out the finger food.

The city’s three Fame multiplexes — at South City, Hiland Park and Hind on Ganesh Chandra Avenue — were unveiled to the public as INOX on Tuesday.

The rebranding is the culmination of an acquisition dated February 2010. INOX, promoted by Gujarat Fluorochemicals, had acquired the Shravan Shroff-owned chain of multiplexes in “a massive bargain”. The takeover was followed by three years of legal formalities and a structured refurbishment exercise.

“The rebranding process started with our Mumbai and Bangalore properties and we then moved to Calcutta since it’s a very important market for us,” Alok Tandon, the CEO of INOX, told Metro. “In the next month and a half, every Fame property in the country will be an INOX property.”

The rebranding of Fame takes the total tally of INOX screens in Bengal to 49, with Calcutta boasting eight properties, including the one at Liluah. INOX is the second-largest multiplex operator in the country with 284 screens across 73 properties.

“Calcutta has always been one of the strongest markets for us. People here love to watch their movies and film exhibition here is helped by the fact that there is a strong Bengali film industry that churns out quality films on a regular basis,” said Tandon.

While the multiplexes will continue to play the latest Holly, Bolly and Tolly films, INOX has introduced a few extras such as an in-house food court that will whip up finger food and deli items right in front of the customer. “We have taken the best of both the INOX and Fame plex chains, whether it is service, food, ambience or company values, and integrated them into one,” Tandon said.

With the east being an important region on its radar, INOX is looking at furthering its footprint here with a six-screen multiplex ready to be thrown open to the public at the spanking new Quest Mall on Syed Amir Ali Avenue. “Our property at Quest Mall will have all the amenities the INOX brand is known for… and some more,” was the promise from Tandon.