Cinema Accessibility with XL Cinema

XL Cinema is a cinema accessibility startup that focuses on providing descriptive audio for films and web series, enhancing the experience for individuals with visual impairments. This innovative venture was showcased during the season four finale of Shark Tank India, where two of its founders made their pitch.

Guest Appearance and Company Valuation

In this episode, Srikanth Bolla served as a guest shark, while Jeet Adani observed from a distance. The founders pointed out that their technology was utilised in the biopic about Srikanth, which added credibility to their proposition. They requested Rs 1.5 crore in exchange for 1.5% equity, which implied a company valuation of Rs 100 crore. This figure raised some eyebrows among the sharks, especially given the company’s revenue was only Rs 65 lakh.

Business Model and Efficiency

When explaining their business model, the founders stated they charge production houses Rs 4 lakh for each project and promise delivery within 30 hours, which is a notable improvement over the industry’s typical week-long turnaround. They attributed their speed to an efficient AI-driven workflow. Although Anupam Mittal acknowledged the merits of their process, he deemed the valuation excessively high and chose to withdraw. Aman Gupta and Namita Thapar also decided to opt-out, with Aman expressing concerns about the inevitable influx of lower-priced competitors, while Namita questioned the willingness of production houses to invest Rs 4 lakh per project.

Challenges in Scalability

Srikanth Bolla emerged as a critical voice, challenging the founders on their scalability. This led the founders to draw attention to a government directive that mandates all theatrical releases to feature descriptive audio by March 2026. However, Srikanth countered, stating, “Nobody’s implementing the plastic ban either,” which emphasised the gap between legislative measures and actual practice. The founders assured that the CBFC would enforce this regulation, but Srikanth remained sceptical, highlighting that government policies can shift over time.

He further remarked, “I don’t require a visual description either — I can estimate your height based on the sound of your voice. However, my case is unique. Let’s put that aside, as I recognise you are addressing a significant issue… However, new competitors may emerge. Growth possibilities seem remote.” Ultimately, he decided to withdraw from the deal.

Unexpected Support

Despite a challenging response during the pitch, there was a positive turnaround when Jeet Adani stepped forward after the episode aired. He proposed Rs 1 crore in two instalments, providing the founders with a crucial boost following their difficult experience in the tank.