Abandoned Theatres | Nostalgia
Image: Madurai Ram Victoria Theatre 70mm
I wish I had the resources. I would never let a standalone theatre go obsolete, especially those located in Madurai. Not only did they grow cinema viewing but enlightened many. I'm one of those victims.
Deepa theatre was the first in Madurai to be equipped with Dolby sound in early 90s. It was shutdown, and converted into vehicle parking/ garage in mid 2000. I vividly remember watching Kuruthipunal, Dil To Pagal Hai, Border, Karuppuroja, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Thunderbolt at Deepa in Dolby surround, and many other films only for the sound. Nostalgic.
Initially, 'Kuruthipunal' was released in Mathi theatre. It was mono sound. Incidentally, Deepa theatre released this film as a second release highlighting the theatre's Dolby Stereo Surround sound. That was the very first time in the early 90s, I was introduced to Dolby sound. The sequences where RPG launched had incredible surround effect. Almost everyone in theatre looked around if a real RPG was launched into the theatre. That's was the impact of Dolby and DTS sound systems when they were introduced in Madurai in early 90s.
I vividly remember Deepa theatre playing Hindi songs of Dilwale, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, DilSe an hour prior to the show. People couldn't comprehend the sound experience. No one goes out for smoking. There was pin drop silence not when the actual feature film was on, but when the music/sound was played.
I recalled all these memories when I happen to enter the theatre again in 2016 disguised as a Documentarian.
Ram Victoria Theatre 70mm

Madurai Ram Victoria theatre was the second to have a 70mm film projection after Madurai Cinipriya theatre, which is still functional now with its glorious 70mm projection replaced with inferior digital cinema projection (4K).
Ram Victoria theatre was shutdown apparently because of a legal dispute over ownership between brothers.
Following were the films I watched there projected in glorious 70mm film format:
1. Rangeela (70mm blow up)
2. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (70mm blow up)
3. Jurassic Park (35mm)
4. The Mask (35mm)
5. Ulavuthurai
And many B grade films.
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This blog is not exhaustive. There will be addendums.
Authored by Balaji Thangapandian aka #BT - a spacefarer, who is also curious about film-making, connectivity technologies and military history.
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