There was a time when actors and actresses for films were chosen from talented theatre artistes, based on their performance skills. Surprisingly, drama stages became movie theatres too. One such conversion was the Central Theatre on Mettupalayam Road in Coimbatore, which was a drama stage more than fifty years ago.

Subsequently, a cinema hall was built on the same spot. Later on, the theatre was air-conditioned and later converted to a 70 mm screen (the first in Coimbatore), with the best sound system. The screening of ‘Cleopatra’ was a landmark event for the theatre. The popularity of Elizabeth Taylor, the storyline, and the appeal of the theatre brought in people from as far away as Salem to Coimbatore, to watch the film.

Busloads of film-buffs came from the adjoining towns and villages to watch ‘Cleopatra’ and also relish the special Masala Vadai along with the Jaffers ice cream. Several of these buses were hired by groups of people who were out on movie picnics. Coimbatore had really come a long way since then, as a destination for entertainment.

The MGR-starrer ‘Aayirathil Oruvan’ was one of the most popular Tamil movies to be screened at this theatre. It went on to become a blockbuster hit. Several traders from R.S. Puram and nearby areas used to visit the canteen run by the Annapoorna Hotel family in order to savour the tasty snacks on the offer.

The owner of Central Theatre, V. Ramaswamy Naidu, used to be always present on the premises. Later on, the complex had an addition in the form of a smaller theatre – Kanakadhara. A good number of college students used to frequent the theatre for the English movies because they were shorter and also started late, at 3.30 pm. This was very convenient for the youngsters of those days. The theatre did not have box areas in those days, but had the special ‘R’ row at the highest level in the balcony.

It was the first cinema hall in Coimbatore to have a false ceiling and plaster of Paris embellishments on a large scale. The young and energetic of the yonder era used to race in their scooters to Central Theatres with their companions and had a gala time…