BANGALORE: “I still remember watching the animated movie Antz (1998) with my schoolmates in this theatre. This theatre has many memories attached to it,” says Harsha, now an engineering graduate. Like him, many moviegoers have fond memories of the rustic Puttanna Chitramandira, located in Jayanagar BDA complex. For over a decade now, this theatre has been reduced to an abandoned space, devoid of any activity.
Residents in and around Jayanagar are curious to know the fate of this iconic theatre. Nischit, a resident of Jayanagar 4th T Block, says, “Since the theatre was close to a shopping area, shopping was usually followed by a movie when the theatre was functional.” The biggest virtue of this theatre was its affordability for normal, non-multiplex audience. “The last movie I watched here was Upendra’s Hollywood,” recalls Nischit.
Named after the legendary Kannada filmmaker Puttanna Kanagal, the theatre was established in 1980. The State-owned Karnataka Film Industry Development Corporation (KFIDC) apparently entered into a lease agreement to run the theatre in 1985 on a monthly rent of Rs 24,000. However, the indigent conditions of KFIDC rendered it incapable of doing so, and the body faced closure following a government order in 2004.
During the period till KFIDC’s closure, the theatre made several steep changes in its exhibition rates and ticket prices. The theatre was declared closed in May 2004, during the successful screening of K Chandrashekar’s Poorvapara.
For a brief period in 2004, the theatre became a makeshift premise for Jayanagar Traffic Police Station. During this period, the front compound and basement were used to dump seized vehicles. While the compound now is clear, the basement still holds many seized vehicles, including auto rickshaws.
In 2007, the state government announced that a multiplex, with six to seven screens, would replace Puttanna Theatre. While nothing constructive has been done on this front, residents are not too keen about a multiplex. “We have enough multiplexes already. I think an auditorium should replace the theatre. This will encourage theatre and other art forms,” said Rashmi, a resident. Malls such as Swagath Garuda and The Forum already meet the needs of the multiplex audience around Jayanagar.
“There has been no developmental activity with regard to the theatre for a long time now. The authorities (BBMP) declared that it would be demolished, and later renovated. But nothing has happened till date,” said Venkatesh, who owns a bookstore in the complex for the last 15 years.
The corporator of Byrasandra, N Nagaraju, said that tenders for converting the theatre into a 1000-seater auditorium would be floated in a week’s time. “There will be a theatre along with an auditorium. Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has set aside a budget of `100 crs. for this project,” he said.