Before OTT and television made its way to the Indian market, cinema halls were the only means of watching movies with family and friends. Single screen movie theatres may have gone way past its prime today, but there was a time it ruled the roost. Then came multiplexes; single screen halls in urban areas took a backseat. Though, in interior and rural areas, single screens still thrive. Theatres survived the advent of satellite television and home video like VHS and DVDs but took a strong hit after OTT came along. Reportedly, some theatres that closed down during the pandemic-induced lockdown never opened again.
In the Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu, there are only three functional movie theatres at present. One of the old theatres that shut down years ago was the Shri Ram Theatre in the village of Allampatti in the district. The theatre was integrated with the lives of the people of Allampatti, as it breathed life into the village which did not have any other source of entertainment. Now, after years, the Shri Ram Theater in Allampatti is reopening once again with modified and better amenities.
This is great news for people of the village who had to travel long distances to catch a movie in a theatre for the last few years. The theatre mostly screened films starring legendary Tamil star and former Chief Minister MG Ramachrandan. It was interesting to note that big films did not come directly to the theatre here; they came after a week or so of releasing, but still there used to be huge crowds in the theatre and shows ran housefull.
The theatre has now opened with renowned vigour. The entire place has been renovated to look better. Cinegoer are pleased that the old theatre’s wooden joints and seats have been removed, giving it a more modern appearance after it previously resembled an old-fashioned talkies hall.
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