Theatre in Coimbatore

Unlike the multiplexes in the city that have been making a mad scramble to get a print of the latest flicks, the movie released here for Pongal is the yesteryear blockbuster ‘Aayirathil Ourvan’ (1965) starring former Chief Minister (CM) MGR and the present CM.
“We do not release new films for festivals. It is usually an old movie, preferably MGR-starrer. But, we get more crowds than our rivals who screen latest films,” says Ali. When this theatre re-released ‘Rikshakaran’ during last Deepavali, there was a riot outside. Hundreds of old movie lovers thronged the theatre with garlands, band music etc. and celebrated the 'premiere'. “It was like a festival out here,” Ali says.
Theatre owner G. Rathnavel, a septuagenarian and a veteran in the movie business, points out that old movies still make a decent run and gets him modest business. “There is a steady market for these movies especially when it stars MGR and other popular yesteryear stars,” he says. “It is a safe bet and keeps us going.”
But, Royal was not always a destination for a peek into Kollywood’s past. Rathnavel fondly recollects good old times when Royal theatres used to screen the best of Tamil, Hindi and other language films. “When we screened Chandralekha (a blockbuster movie released in 1948), the line of cars that were parked outside the theatre stretched upto Francis covent around two kilometers away,” he recalls.
K. Balachander’s Marocharitra, a Telugu film released at Royal Theatres several decades ago ran nonstop for 420 days creating a record of sorts during its day. “Most of our films used to run for 100 days,” says the proud theatre owner.
The theatre was started in 1946 by Rathnavel’s father for screening plays. Renowned theatre group of the 40’s T. K. S Brothers, owned by T. K. Shanmugan, ran their plays at Royal theatre day after day for several months as crowds thronged the venue. “Over the years, we moved to cinema and upgraded the theatre. Back then, there were no noon or matinee shows and the action begaan only in the evenings,” says Rathnavel.
During daytime, the huge theatre with a seat capacity of around 1600 (among the largest movie screens at the time) was rented for political meetings. Almost all top politicians including C. Rajagopalachari, M. Karunanidhi, Anna Durai and several others have conducted meetings here. In a way, we played a role in the Dravidian movement too,” says the septuagenarian.
The spirit of the movement seems to linger at Royal as films involving MGR, Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa continue to draw in the crowds even today.
Despite their quaint charm, old theatres will have to eventually move out
For a theatre that has been among the best screens in Coimbatore for several decades, the Royal theatre owners seem to be in no mood to upgrade to the latest in screening technology.
“I am a technology lover and welcome all innovation in the movie experience. Over the years, movie going experience has evolved a lot is set to get better. But, while my generation and my father’s generation shared a love for cinema and theatre, we do not have much patrons among our children. Hence, I just want to operate the theatre as it is,” says Rathnavel.
The ticket prices at Royal are also way beneath present levels. While mutliplexes charge upto Rs. 120/seat, Royal still has a ticket price range of Rs. 30/-, Rs. 20/- and Rs. 7/- only. “We strictly adhere by the rules and even when a new film is released, the prices don’t go beyond this,” says an employee here.
In its heyday, this movie hall was a pioneer in movie technology when several innovations were introduced to make the movie-going experience better for public. “We are among the first in this region to screen noon and matinee shows. We screened experimental films, Hindi blockbusters etc. that did not evoke much interest among theatre owners at the time,” Rathnavel says.
The movie hall that still holds the grandeur of its past is expected to phase out of the Coimbatore movie theatre scene over the coming years and pave way for more high rises. “The concept of cineme theatres have been changing and we don’t think it is viable anymore to make such a huge investment and get good returns,” says the septuagenarian.
Until then, movie lovers in Coimbatore who want to get a glimpse of the 60s and 70s Tamil cinema can count on Royal as a favourite haunt.

[@Pangajam70]

தேவர் மகன் படம் இங்க தான் பாத்தேன்.இளமை ஊஞ்சலாடுகிறது, நெற்றிக்கண், அம்மன்,நடமாடும் சிலைகள்,எண்ணற்ற படங்கள் பார்த்த பசுமை ஞாபகம்.கண்ணீர் வருகிறது.பால் ஐஸ் இங்க நல்லாயிருக்கும்.

[@gangadaran7562]

Yes ....crocing tiger hidden dragon movie inga thaan paarthen....

[@kinathukadavukgram4242]

தம்பி பாவம்பா நீங்க ராயல் ‌ஒரே தியேட்டர் தான் ... வரலாறு ரொம்ப முக்கியம் ... பழைய தியேட்டர்களின் விவரங்கள் தேவையென்றால் அந் தந்த பகுதிகளில் இருக்கும் 70"80 வயதுடைய வர்களிடம் பேச்சு கொடுத்தால் கதை கதையாக சோல் வார்கள் அதைவிடுத்து அறைகுறை யாக விமர்சிப்பது சற்று வேதனையாக உள்ளது..

[@apalaniappans.arunachalam6946]

In this theatre, I watched morning Show Marosarithra, (Kamalhassan) in the year 1978. I feel bad now. I think this theatre owned by Mr. Sundara Vadivelu sir. ( RHR hotel, Railway stion I think. I feel bad by seeing the same at present

[@MohanRaj-bf3rj]

Sweet memories thanks royal theatre family members

[@mbbtamilgamer9169]

I watched amman movie in my child age.😭 , I remember that sweet memories.

[@KrishnaRaj-y5g]

ராயல் தியேட்டர் ஒரே ஸ்கீரின் தான் பிரதர் அண்ணன் தம்பி பாகப்பிரச்சனை கார்த்தி நடித்த சிறுத்தை மூவில தியேட்டர் இரண்டாக பிரிக்கப்பட்டது. மறுபடியும் கேஸ் நடக்குது

[@KrishnaRaj-y5g]

இந்த தியேட்டரை காஸ்மோஸ் ரன் பன்னலாம்

[@lovinsa]

Old is Gold❤️❤️❤️
The theater can be renovated..

[@travelwithdono5114]

S bro but some parts of the Theatre like backstage , canteen and parking has already been demolished .
We hope one day it will be renovated

[@lovinsa]

@@travelwithdono5114 you're right bro...and This theater has its own history from 70's... It is sad to see the current situation..Mngt should renovate it or atleast should protect it...

[@tkumargstharshan720]

காலத்தின் கோலம்.இந்த.தியேட்டர்களை.எல்லாம்பார்த்தால்மனம்கல்லாகிறது.என்னசெய்வது.டிவி.சீரியல்.(நாடகம்). ஸ்மார்ட் போன் களின்.வருகை.இவைகளின்முடிவு.

[@karthikeyanka3380]

அற்புதம் அருமை நண்பா எனக்கு

[@dineshs1250]

அருமையான பதிவு..👌🔥

[@travelwithdono5114]

நன்றி நண்பா

[@mallibabu3995]

Golden moments

[@senthilmahe1796]

பார்க்கவே ரொம்பவும் கஷ்டமா இருக்கு நண்பா ந இப்பாத்தா இந்த இடத்தை தாண்டி வந்தேன்

[@travelwithdono5114]

😔

[@afantonyalapatt9554]

I am now 90 years .I saw many films there.sweet memories..................

[@sri5688]

என் அப்பா சிவாஜி ரசிகர் என்பதால் "முரடன் முத்து "படத்தை தொடர்ந்து 2 நாள் இந்த தியேட்டரில் பார்த்து விட்டு வந்ததாக சொல்லுவார்.
சிவாஜி புரொடக்சன்ஸ் படங்கள் பெரும்பாலும் இங்கு ரிலீஸ் ஆகும்.
மன்னன் கடைசியா பாத்தபடம்.

[@thalapathy100]

There were never 2 screens. Capacity was reduced few years ago. That's why you were able to go back. The place you entered had the original screen.

[@travelwithdono5114]

S bro

[@saravananarjunsaravanan863]

First screen volla poi kaatave illa bro

[@kaushalone8439]

I heard that in 1942 telugu film Bhakta potana a telugu film celebrated golden jubilee in coimbatore pl inform whehther it was released in Royal theatre?

[@travelwithdono5114]

I Think There another movie with the same Title Bhakta Potana in 1966 and it had celebrated golden jubilee

[@kaushalone8439]

Sorry you are wrong That 1966 film Bhakta potana is miserable failure even in Andhra. WHEN Andhra was part of madrad state telugu films have celebrated silver and golden jubilees For example Gemini Balanagamma Vauhini swargaseema Bhakta potana pl verify old records again

[@travelwithdono5114]

@@kaushalone8439 sure I will verify

[@kaushalone8439]

Thank u sir i got information from Raja theatre That film celebrated in their theatre you have respondeded immediately My best wishes to u and your family

[@divagardukeler2447]

👌🏻👌🏻🤩

[@mokkavideos8098]

Sivaji productions films r relese in this theater like Mannan ,my dear marthandan, vetri vizha are compelsery above 100 days 🙏

[@NOOB-uc9xn]

❤️❤️❤️

[@Hariharan-mg7gz]

🔥❤️🎉

[@travelwithdono5114]

💥🤩

[@saishankar9921]

PVR Inox madhiri corporates naala indha madhiri single screen theatres kaanama poochu. People must watch movies only in single screen and avoid corporate theatres.

[@travelwithdono5114]

S bro definitely
Pudhusu vantha udane palasa ellarum maranthu thanga

[@rajagopalachariramanujam6242]

You cannot imagine now about those golden movies very big cutouts showing important scenes avvaiyar full size image of kbs chandralekha drum dance vasana Apoorva sagotharsrgal scenes and pamplets in art paper depicting actual colour full scenes song book / KBS marocharitra ninathale inikum with crowded audience were inforgettable days / we were lucky to watch those filims thanks for bringing / try bring those filims studios central and pakshiraja gopalapuram distribution company's Jupiter lodge etc consult old people above 75 they will give you matter that will be more interesting thanks rRamanujachari ex partner krishna theatres Rnpuram Kovai metro city

[@travelwithdono5114]

@@rajagopalachariramanujam6242 how to contact you sir

[@prram6185]

💢

[@josephrajesh1074]

Can demolish and built shopping complex

[@travelwithdono5114]

Shopping complex cannot bring u memories or history

[@mohanrajkalisamy7376]

Mannan padam enngay thaan paarthen

[@thangapandian3762]

Theatre running la irukka bro??

[@travelwithdono5114]

Ila bro close panni One year achu
Ipo parking mari use oanranga

[@thangapandian3762]

@@travelwithdono5114 reel format la vera theatre ethachum running la irukka bro?

[@travelwithdono5114]

@@thangapandian3762 Delite Theatre bro

[@thangapandian3762]

@@travelwithdono5114 thanks bro

[@travelwithdono5114]

@@thangapandian3762 paravala bro
Like , share , subscribe pannirunga bro

[@Hotlink-co8ez]

Iyo mudidagala,,,

[@travelwithdono5114]

Enuga enachu