UFO Cinema Solutions Launches MAGNOVA Direct-View LED Screen in Kochi

UFO Cinema Solutions has introduced MAGNOVA, its first premium large-format offering built around direct-view LED technology. The first MAGNOVA auditorium has been commissioned at Magic Framez in Kakkanad, Kochi, marking the launch of what the company describes as India's first acoustic-transparent direct-view 4K HDR LED cinema screen.

Unlike conventional projection systems that cast images onto a separate surface, MAGNOVA utilizes a direct-view LED display where the screen itself produces the image. According to the company, this technology delivers higher brightness, deeper blacks, enhanced contrast, and consistent image quality without the light spill commonly associated with standard projectors.

The Kochi setup features a 14-metre-wide and 6-metre-high DCI-approved direct-view 4K HDR LED screen with a 3.91 mm pixel pitch, tailored specifically for theatrical presentations. The system is powered by HEYLED by TIMEWAYING, an international manufacturer of direct-view LED cinema technology. Its acoustic-transparent design addresses a primary technical challenge of cinema LED screens by allowing speakers to be positioned directly behind the screen, preserving the spatial alignment between on-screen action and audio.

This installation combines the display technology with Dolby Atmos immersive audio and Pulz Cinema Speakers to form an integrated audiovisual system. Pradeep Shetty, Business Head at UFO Cinema Solutions, UFO Cine Media Network, noted that cinema exhibition is shifting toward premium large formats through international technology brands, with MAGNOVA and CINITY providing Indian exhibitors access to the next generation of presentation systems.

The Indian cinema exhibition sector currently comprises approximately 10,000 screens, with only about 50 operating as premium large-format screens. This disparity indicates a clear opportunity for theatre owners to upgrade their properties as audiences increasingly seek theatrical experiences that surpass home entertainment options.

Following the Kochi launch and an introduction at the Big Cine Expo, UFO Cinema Solutions plans to roll out MAGNOVA in additional markets across India. The company is actively inviting theatre owners and exhibitors to explore partnerships to expand access to technology-driven cinema formats.

"The introduction of direct-view LED technology in Indian theatres highlights a crucial shift toward experience-driven differentiation in the exhibition sector. With only a small fraction of India's 10,000 screens currently operating as premium large formats, upgrading display and audio infrastructure represents a viable commercial pathway for theatre owners looking to compete effectively with home entertainment. As companies like UFO Cinema Solutions expand these technologies into new markets, exhibitors who invest in next-generation formats will likely capture a distinct advantage in audience retention." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes