MUMBAI: Adlabs Films has reached the milestone of operating 100 screens across the country, making it the largest cinema chain in the country.

The 100 screens are spread across 29 properties in 22 cities and will provide a total of approximately 31,000 seats. These not only include several properties in previously under-served tier II cities, but also cover major film territories.

Adlabs Films chairman and managing director Manmohan Shetty says, “Adlabs Cinemas is fast progressing towards our aim of providing quality film-viewing experience to everyone in the country. Inspite of having the biggest film-producing industry and one of the largest film-watching audiences in the world, India is still under-served in terms of cinema screens.”

The multiplex space has been witnessing high competition with all big players announcing major expansion plans. Earlier it was Fun Cinemas that is investing more than Rs 40 billion to build around 1500 screens across India. Cinemax, which has currently 39 screens in the country, is eyeing more than 400 screens by 2011, of which 100 screens are slated to be completed by next year.

It is also learnt that the DLF promoted DT cinemas has been approached by Sony Pictures and Warner Brothers to build new screens all across the country. The deal has not been finalized but is seen as a huge investment in the multiplex market.