Work on the multiplex in progress at Satyajit Mancha in Balurghat on Friday. Picture by Ramen Mondal

Balurghat, Jan. 16: The first multiplex of Balurghat will begin operations, although with a single screening facility, at Satyajit Mancha on Sunday.

The multiplex will be a joint venture between Calcutta’s Priya Entertainment and the Balurghat Municipality. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the two groups in the first week of January after which work has progressed in a fast pace.

Satyajit Mancha, built about 10 years ago, has a capacity to accommodate 800 people. A private company had been running it as a cinema hall till it was shut down two years ago.

Sucheta Biswas, the chairperson of the municipality, said: “Priya Entertainment has a long-standing experience of running film theatres in the state starting from Priya cinema and Star theatre in Calcutta and cultural complexes in Santiniketan, Burdwan and Sonarpur. This is the reason why we entered into the agreement with them to refurbish the hall.”

She, however, did not disclose the financial deal struck with the company.

The building also houses the offices of the CID and the income-tax department. “We are requesting them to shift to other areas soon so that one more screening facility is added to make it a full-fledged multiplex with a restaurant,” Biswas said.

Purnima Dutta of Priya Entertainment said Balurghat was chosen as the company’s first foray in north Bengal because of its “rich cultural history”. “The town was always culturally forward in the region.” She said this was the company’s seventh project in the state. “We will be responsible for operating and managing the complex.”

A three-day programme beginning on Sunday will mark the reopening of the hall, Dutta said. Goutam Ghose’s Kalbela will be screened on that day and the director will inaugurate the show.

“The next day, Sandip Ray will be in Balurghat to inaugurate the screening of his latest film Tintoretor Jishu and on Tuesday Balmiki Pratibha, Tagore’s dance drama, will be staged by prison inmates under the direction of Alakananda Roy,” Dutta said.