A new cinema screen in Kochi is bringing a technology not previously installed at this scale in India.

Magic Frames in Kakkanad has unveiled a 14-metre acoustic-transparent Direct View 4K HDR LED cinema screen, making it the first installation of its kind in the country. The screen is part of MAGNOVA, a premium large-format cinema offering from UFO Cinema Solutions, powered by HEYLED technology.

The installation measures 14 metres by 6 metres and uses a DCI-compliant Direct View LED display with 4K HDR capability and a 3.91 mm pixel pitch. Unlike a conventional projection setup, where an image is projected onto a screen, a Direct View LED system produces the image directly through the display itself.

What makes the screen different?

The key technology behind the Kochi installation is its acoustic-transparent architecture.

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In a conventional LED cinema screen, placing speakers directly behind the display can be a challenge because the screen itself can obstruct the path of sound. The MAGNOVA installation has been designed to allow cinema speakers to be positioned behind the 14-metre-wide LED display.

This means the audio can originate from behind the image, aligning the source of the sound with what appears on screen. The setup is paired with Dolby Atmos immersive audio and Pulz Cinema Speakers.

The display also offers 4K HDR presentation, along with the characteristics associated with Direct View LED technology, including high brightness, contrast and the absence of projector-based light spill.

The technical specifications at a glance-

The MAGNOVA screen installed in Kochi features:

  • Screen size: 14 metres x 6 metres
  • Display technology: Direct View LED
  • Resolution: 4K
  • HDR: Yes
  • Compliance: DCI-compliant
  • Pixel pitch: 3.91 mm
  • Technology: Powered by HEYLED
  • Audio setup: Dolby Atmos
  • Speakers: Pulz Cinema Speakers
  • Key feature: Acoustic-transparent LED architecture allowing speakers to be placed behind the screen

The installation represents a different approach to theatrical presentation, combining a large-format LED display with an audio configuration designed around speaker placement behind the image.

From projection to Direct View LED

Cinema technology has moved through several display formats, from film projection to digital projection, while Direct View LED has emerged as another option for theatrical exhibition.

With a Direct View LED system, the display itself produces the image instead of relying on a projector and reflected light. The Kochi installation combines this display technology with an acoustic-transparent design, addressing the placement of speakers behind a large LED cinema screen.

According to UFO Cinema Solutions, the Kochi installation is the first step in a wider rollout of the MAGNOVA format, with discussions underway with exhibitors in metros as well as other cities and towns across India.

The installation was unveiled on August 17 at Magic Frames, Kakkanad. Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan inaugurated the screen.

MAGNOVA is also set to be showcased to exhibitors and theatre owners at Big Cine Expo as UFO Cinema Solutions begins presenting the format to the wider cinema exhibition industry.

For Indian movie theatres, the Kochi installation now serves as the first domestic example of a 14-metre acoustic-transparent 4K Direct View LED screen, combining the display, speaker placement and immersive audio system within a single premium large-format auditorium.