CHENNAI: As you pass grey buildings, driving alongside winding trucks, a swirl of bright colours declaring itself as the newest cinema hall is the
last thing you expect in north Chennai.
Idreams Cinemas, the glitzy theatre that formally opened on Thursday, is an agent of change in more ways than one. Apart from being in an area usually ignored by the film world, it boasts of India's first XD 20 dts technology (beta version), a projector room with two conventional projectors and a Qube for digital screening, red-and-white tiled wash rooms, and reclining seats. It's a single-screen theatre with 620 seats in three classes.
Sixteen QSE surround speakers, online booking, computerized ticketing and telebooking are add-ons. A cafeteria that will serve branded coffee and ice cream, not found in Royapuram, is also on the cards, say R Murthy and R Easwaran, the owners of the theatre that has risen on the debris of Brighton theatre, demolished two years ago.
Unlike in the past when only films that were a couple of weeks old were screened, Idreams is screening the just-released Naan Kadavul', directed by Bala. Separate booking counters for men and women remind you that this is still a world where societal mores lean towards tradition.
Old timers recall that Brighton theatre, believed to have opened in the early 1930s, was Chennai's answer to Brighton, the English seaside resort. "Although it was in the backwoods of Chennai, Anglo-Indians who lived in the vicinity patronised it, as did hockey players and those who loved English numbers," says historian Randor Guy. "The German singer Englebert Humperdink was actually an Anglo-Indian whose relatives lived near the theatre, and he used to watch a lot of movies there," he says. The theatre used to play English songs quaintly titled, overture' and intermission' at the start and during the interval, recalls Guy. "Popular numbers of American singers Perry Como and Bing Cosby used to be played, and when they played Chu chu baby, don't cry baby', the audience used to sing along, and many babies would fall sleep to the lullaby," says Guy.
The theatre, originally believed to have been owned by Ramiah Nadar, was bequeathed to his three daughters, says a former resident of the area, M P Chellappa. "My house was across from the theatre and the owner used my thinnai' (verandah) to advertise his films. As payment, my family for to see films for free. I remember watching quite a few films where beautiful women used to have sword fights. Such films were always a big draw," he adds.
Film News Ananadan, film historian and chronicler, says a number of Tamil films such as Thanga malai ragasiyam' were popular as well. "Although it was in Royapuram, many people used to take the tram on weekends, and combine visiting relatives with catching a film. It is good that the theatre has been revived, instead of turning into a mall."
Ananda Suresh of distributors association says, "The renovation is good for the area. Clearly people demand maximum comfort, wherever they are."
Abirami' Ramanathan, president, Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners' Association, feels it is a buyer's market. "This move will force other theatres in the locality to revamp, and competition is always good for the industry.
For the group of 20-somethings living on Surya Narayana Chetty street where Idreams has opened up, it's simply heaven. And you know they are referring not merely to the theatre, but to cinema as well. Idremas Cinemas was inaugurated by M K Azhagiri.
FOR ONLINE TICKET CLICK HERE
Unlike in the past when only films that were a couple of weeks old were screened, Idreams is screening the just-released Naan Kadavul', directed by Bala. Separate booking counters for men and women remind you that this is still a world where societal mores lean towards tradition.
Old timers recall that Brighton theatre, believed to have opened in the early 1930s, was Chennai's answer to Brighton, the English seaside resort. "Although it was in the backwoods of Chennai, Anglo-Indians who lived in the vicinity patronised it, as did hockey players and those who loved English numbers," says historian Randor Guy. "The German singer Englebert Humperdink was actually an Anglo-Indian whose relatives lived near the theatre, and he used to watch a lot of movies there," he says. The theatre used to play English songs quaintly titled, overture' and intermission' at the start and during the interval, recalls Guy. "Popular numbers of American singers Perry Como and Bing Cosby used to be played, and when they played Chu chu baby, don't cry baby', the audience used to sing along, and many babies would fall sleep to the lullaby," says Guy.
The theatre, originally believed to have been owned by Ramiah Nadar, was bequeathed to his three daughters, says a former resident of the area, M P Chellappa. "My house was across from the theatre and the owner used my thinnai' (verandah) to advertise his films. As payment, my family for to see films for free. I remember watching quite a few films where beautiful women used to have sword fights. Such films were always a big draw," he adds.
Film News Ananadan, film historian and chronicler, says a number of Tamil films such as Thanga malai ragasiyam' were popular as well. "Although it was in Royapuram, many people used to take the tram on weekends, and combine visiting relatives with catching a film. It is good that the theatre has been revived, instead of turning into a mall."
Ananda Suresh of distributors association says, "The renovation is good for the area. Clearly people demand maximum comfort, wherever they are."
Abirami' Ramanathan, president, Tamil Nadu Theatre Owners' Association, feels it is a buyer's market. "This move will force other theatres in the locality to revamp, and competition is always good for the industry.
For the group of 20-somethings living on Surya Narayana Chetty street where Idreams has opened up, it's simply heaven. And you know they are referring not merely to the theatre, but to cinema as well. Idremas Cinemas was inaugurated by M K Azhagiri.
FOR ONLINE TICKET CLICK HERE
Tags:
0 comments:
Post a Comment