PERAMBALUR: After entertaining generations of movie lovers for over six decades, the historic Krishna theatre in Perambalur is set to close its doors this week.
The management has decided to demolish the 65-year-old single-screen theatre and construct a modern multiplex with a shopping complex in its place — bringing down the curtain on one of the town’s most cherished landmarks.
To bid farewell, the management is screening late actor Sivaji Ganesan’s classic Veerapandiya Kattabomman — the very first film shown at the theatre when it opened in 1960. The movie is being screened free of cost from October 28 to 31, with three shows a day, as a gesture of gratitude to the audience that kept the theatre alive for decades.
Established by P Rajalingam, P Gunasekaran and B Jayachandran, Krishna theatre holds the distinction of being Perambalur’s first cinema hall. Located on Attur Road, the non-air-conditioned theatre became a cultural touchstone for the town, drawing audiences from across the district.
Since 1976, the theatre has been managed by M Rajaram, who has helmed it for nearly five decades. “The theatre is not just a building for us, it’s an emotion. I now want to rebuild it into a modern multiplex so that the next generation can continue to experience cinema here,” Rajaram told TNIE.
The theatre, with its 462-seat capacity, and digital sound system, stood as one of the region’s premier single-screen cinemas. Over the years, it hosted countless memorable screenings and visits including those by former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran and actor SS Rajendran during a 1967 election campaign, and actor S Ve Shekher in 1985.
Several iconic Tamil films, such as Thiruvilayadal, Enga Veettu Pillai, Aattukara Alamelu, and Poove Poochudava, celebrated silver jubilees here. “This theatre is part of our lives.
My parents watched movies here when tickets cost just a few paise. Watching Veerappandiya Kattabomman again in the same hall brought tears to my eyes,” said S Shriram, a 50-year-old resident. Nearly 200 people attended the first show of Veerapandiya Kattabomman on Tuesday.
