Watching films in theatres was one of the major ways of entertainment for many in grand old Madras, which is now celebrating its 372nd birthday. Theatres of old Madras were paradise on earth for the then movie buffs.
Chennai was the first metropolis to bring in the concept of multiplex in India. Safire theatre complex, which existed in the then Mount road (now Anna salai), had two more screens -Blue Diamond and Emerald * and was India's first multi-theatre complex.
But cinema halls which once entertained the masses are now being converted into multiplexes, residential complexes, malls or marriage halls. Some of the once popular theatres which have undergone change include Nagesh theatre in T. Nagar now a wedding hall, Sayani theatre in Ayanavaram now a residential complex, Wellington, Alankar and Anand in Anna salai are now office complexes, Ram in Vadapalani is a kalyana mandap, Gaiety is a makeshift shooting floor, Roxy in Purasawalkam is a popular store complex.
Though the reasons for this transformation are many, nothing is lost for the audience in terms of cinema-going experience, says Udeep, managing director of Mayajaal, the plush multiplex on ECR road.
He says, “You can call it `entertainment redefined'. The single screen concept is vanishing.
People need to adapt to the changing scenario. The concept of watching a film in multiplexes, which takes them to the next level in moviewatching experience, is fast catching up with the city folks. Coming to a theatre to watch a film has become a social outing.“
He contends that everything * shopping, games, coffee shop, food court, etc. are available under a single roof in a multi plex mall. “We also offer value-added services like serving food inside the theatre at their seats once the client places the order, before the film starts.“ Echoing the same view, Mr Abirami Ramanathan, who owns Abirami mega mall, which houses an array of theatres and a mall, says, “Earlier, weekend outing for a family meant watching a movie in a theatre, driving to a hotel for good dining and then to the beach for relaxing. But, when all these things are available in a single place, then that is called `wholesome entertainment' which is precisely what we are offering. The tastes and preferences of Gen-Y audiences who throng the cinema halls have changed a lot.“
As part of the ongoing process of introducing new concepts and valueadded services, Abirami mega mall recently launched a cost-effective, pick-up and drop taxi service. The charm of a multiplex is that audiences are spoilt for choice of movie. Gone are the days of standing in long queues to get tickets and even after hours of waiting, sometimes you would get disappointed. Now, everything is available on the Internet.
Watching films in theatres was one of the major ways of entertainment for many in grand old Madras, which is now celebrating its 372nd birthday. Theatres of old Madras were paradise on earth for the then movie buffs.
Chennai was the first metropolis to bring in the concept of multiplex in India. Safire theatre complex, which existed in the then Mount road (now Anna salai), had two more screens -Blue Diamond and Emerald * and was India's first multi-theatre complex.
But cinema halls which once entertained the masses are now being converted into multiplexes, residential complexes, malls or marriage halls. Some of the once popular theatres which have undergone change include Nagesh theatre in T. Nagar now a wedding hall, Sayani theatre in Ayanavaram now a residential complex, Wellington, Alankar and Anand in Anna salai are now office complexes, Ram in Vadapalani is a kalyana mandap, Gaiety is a makeshift shooting floor, Roxy in Purasawalkam is a popular store complex.
Though the reasons for this transformation are many, nothing is lost for the audience in terms of cinema-going experience, says Udeep, managing director of Mayajaal, the plush multiplex on ECR road.
He says, “You can call it `entertainment redefined'. The single screen concept is vanishing.
People need to adapt to the changing scenario. The concept of watching a film in multiplexes, which takes them to the next level in moviewatching experience, is fast catching up with the city folks. Coming to a theatre to watch a film has become a social outing.“
He contends that everything * shopping, games, coffee shop, food court, etc. are available under a single roof in a multi plex mall. “We also offer value-added services like serving food inside the theatre at their seats once the client places the order, before the film starts.“ Echoing the same view, Mr Abirami Ramanathan, who owns Abirami mega mall, which houses an array of theatres and a mall, says, “Earlier, weekend outing for a family meant watching a movie in a theatre, driving to a hotel for good dining and then to the beach for relaxing. But, when all these things are available in a single place, then that is called `wholesome entertainment' which is precisely what we are offering. The tastes and preferences of Gen-Y audiences who throng the cinema halls have changed a lot.“
As part of the ongoing process of introducing new concepts and valueadded services, Abirami mega mall recently launched a cost-effective, pick-up and drop taxi service. The charm of a multiplex is that audiences are spoilt for choice of movie. Gone are the days of standing in long queues to get tickets and even after hours of waiting, sometimes you would get disappointed. Now, everything is available on the Internet.
You said it Praveen, the magic of watching cinema in those days was the best thrill we all at our young age had.. meaning.. it was so much fun to watch movies in such majestic theaters.. our family used to go to the drive in restaurant (woodlands which unfortunately is not there anymore.. ), and go to movies.. I was so saddened when the first multiplex theater Sapphire, Blue Diamond and Emerald was destroyed.. I heard such bad rumours about it as well..
In any case, nothing compares to those days when entertainment was simple and simple pleasures gave enormous pleasures, I am happy that Madras at least has not lost its Music Academy or Narada ghana sabha etc.. I feel so nostalgic :-)
Best!
Little heard of but a novel way of entertainment. Most of us have been bathroom whistlers in our younger days. I was myself one for many years when I was young. Reading news about this association reminds me of how people give life to common ideas to form associations.
“The great commitment shown by whistlers in Chennai is a sign of encouragement. M. S. Subramaniam, who runs the Lalith Geethanjali Orchestra and is capable of singing in 18 voices, including those of famous women playback singers, devotes a lot of time to whistling and is an important member of the group. Among the women, Pooja Chandramohan, Shweta Suresh and Dhivya Soundari have whistled to notice. Pooja, a school student, is adept at whistling Tamil classical songs”.
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Originally Posted by praveen 
