How balloon theatres are taking cinema to small towns

A new chapter in movie-watching has arrived in Bommidi, a small town in Tamil Nadu’s Dharmapuri district, with the launch of the state’s first Mobile Digital Movie Theatre (MDMT). Popularly referred to as the “balloon theatre,” this initiative by Picture Time brings the multiplex experience to smaller towns. Built using a fire and weather-resistant inflatable structure, the theatre is fully air‑conditioned and equipped with high‑quality projection and sound. It’s portable, quick to set up, and designed to make cinema more accessible to rural audiences.