BENGALURU: Urvashi Theatre, one of Bengaluru’s iconic cinematic landmarks near Lalbagh, is being demolished following a long-running property dispute. The famous structure on Lalbagh Main Road has enthralled movie-goers for 55 years and is one of Bengaluru’s oldest and best-known single-screen theatres.
The demolition began on Monday, with mechanical excavators deployed on the premises and the process of clearing the theatre already underway. Chairs and other equipment are being removed from the building as the iconic theatre prepares to make way for a new chapter.
Opened in 1970 by Kannada matinee idol Dr Rajkumar, Urvashi became a familiar destination for generations of Bengaluru’s cinephiles. The theatre, with more than 1,150 seats, witnessed packed shows, first-day-first-show celebrations and long-running films across Kannada and other Indian languages.
Over the decades, Urvashi also remained known for keeping pace with changes in cinema technology. It was among the early theatres in Bengaluru to introduce 4K digital projection and advanced sound technology.
The theatre’s closure follows a property dispute between the theatre owners and the landowners. The premises had been leased from the landowners, including Basatti Shetty, with the lease expiring in 2018. After years of legal proceedings, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the landowners, paving the way for the property to be taken back.
Urvashi’s demolition also comes at a significant moment for Kannada cinema, with the theatre having been associated with several major releases over the years.
Its loss marks another departure from Bengaluru’s traditional single-screen theatre culture, which has steadily given way to multiplexes and newer entertainment spaces.
For a theatre that once brought thousands of people together under one roof, Urvashi’s demolition marks the physical end of a familiar landmark in Bengaluru’s cinematic landscape.