Theatre classification - Kottayam Anand is the best theatre in Kerala

The Anand theatre of Kottayam has been selected as the best Cinema theatre in Kerala by the Theatre Classification Commitee appointed by the Kerala government. The commitee bestowed the 'Platinum' grade upon 15 theatres that they found as the best in the classification. Anand secured the highest marks in the grading.

The classification process was carried out by the committee comprised of Ramachandrababu (cinematographer), Krishnanunni (sound engineer), B Muraleedharan (civil engineer), Javed Parvesh (reporter) and PR Hariharan Nair (film critic).

The commitee examined 399 theatres. They recommended that only 56 theatres with good basic facilities should be considered as the releasing centres. The committee opined that most of the releasing centres are very low in quality.
The theatres are classified into different grades by the evaluation of quality of projection, air conditioning, hygiene of toilets, quality of seats and other facilities.

Sripadmanabha (Thiruvavananthapuram), Varsha (Anchal), Saniya (Eramalloor), Saraswathi (Kaliyikkavila), Padma (Eranakuam), EVM (Kochi), Thalam (Vadakkancheri), Anna (Kolancheri), PVS (Thanur), Kavitha (Kannur), Kairali (Mancheri), Aiswarya (Sultan Batheri) and Vismaya (Perinthalmanna) are the other 14 theatres that got Platinum grade. These theatres can use the phrase Platinum Theatre with their name and ads.

More than 90 theatres didn't cooperate with the evaluation. The State Minister for Film affairs, KB Ganesh Kumar said that these theatres will be made close if they don't cooperate within 6 months. The steps would be taken to cut their licences. He also said that many theatres have to increase the facilities to a higher level.