Multiplex in Infosys Mysore

The 4 screen multiplex in Infosys Mysore is used to screen movies during weekends as well as hold various events one of which is the Initiation of a new batch of trainees. This is what Infosys has to say about the multiplex:

The Multiplex in the campus boasts of a 4-screen digital cinema which is in a geodesic dome and auditorium complex with a capacity of 1,500 seats. Its built over a State-Of-Art Architecture which makes it one of a kind. It comes with an excellent DTS sound system.

The Infosys Multiplex is located near the Employee Care Center(ECC) which is at the heart of the Infosys Mysore DC(Development center). The ECC is built on Spanish architectural lines and houses a gymnasium, badminton courts, table tennis, & squash courts, pool tables, aerobics center, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, bowling alley, climbing wall, meditation hall, bank, Laundromat, company store and 5-bed medical center(phew!).

The largest of the screens(Screen-4) has a capacity of 1040 while the rest of the screens have a capacity of 140. It is in Screen-4 where our Initiation was held and also where the movies are screened.

Weekend Movies:
Generally two movies are screened every weekend. One is from Hollywood while the other is a Bollywood product. In all, 3 shows of each of the movies takes place. So in all total, 6 screenings takes place. The movies screened belong to the latest batch of releases.

The tickets are available to Infosys Employees at no cost. Each of us has been given a Facilities Card which enables us to avail unlimited usage of Multiplex, lawn tennis, rock climbing etc. Rs 150 are automatically deducted from our salary for the Facilities Card.

The Rush for Tickets:
The tickets are available 2 hours before the show starts. Generally, the show timings are 2pm, 6pm and 9:30pm. On showing ones facilities card the tickets are provided. But it is not easy as it seems.

The 1040 capacity of screen 4 is small as compared to the capacity of the Mysore DC. In Mysore DC not only training takes place but also Production(in other words: Work). These Production people live outside the campus. There are in all 4 SDB’s(Software Development Blocks) in Infosys Mysore which can accommodate around 5100 software professionals. Combine this number with another 5000 (or maybe more) trainees and you get the potential target audience vying for the ticket.

So around two and half hours ago, a queue starts forming. And within no time a huge line forms. The tickets are alloted on first come first serve basis and only one ticket per person. Those in front of the queue get the privilege of watching the movie from the balcony. People further down the queue are the ones who have to crane their necks to watch the movie.

Experience in acquiring movie tickets was akin to climbing into the crowded local trains of Mumbai. Most of the line is kept outside of the multiplex. But every few minutes the glass doors are opened by the security guard for a brief period of time to let some of us in. At this moment everybody forgets that they are employees of a multinational company and starts pushing like their life depends on it. To avoid such commotion extra security guards have been posted to make sure the queue behaves and nobody sneaks in the queue.