The company credited the growth to a strong operational performance across the cinema circuit. During the quarter, PVR’s first co-production Taare Zameen Par premiered to both critical and box office appreciation.

For the nine months ended December 31, net profit grew to Rs 18.36 crore, from Rs 8.36 crore during the same period last year. Revenues grew by 45 per cent to Rs 187.9 crore (Rs 129.3 crore). EBITDA was up by 79 per cent to Rs 44.2 crore.

During the quarter, the company launched a premium brand of multiplexes under the name PVR Premiere, starting with its property in New Delhi’s Select City Walk Mall. It also announced plans for five multiplexes in association with Prestige Group at the latter’s mall projects in Bangalore, Kochi, Hyderabad and Mangalore.

“We served around 4.76 million patrons during this quarter as against 3.64 million patrons in the third quarter in 2006,” said Mr Ajay Bijli, Chairman and MD, PVR. He also promised to bring retail entertainment concepts to complement the movie going experience of consumers.

The company currently operates 24 cinemas with 95 screens across 14 cities, and expects to have another 50 multiplexes operational in the next 12 months. Shares of the company closed at Rs 254.5 on the BSE, lower by about 2.3 per cent from the previous close.