In India, Traditional Theaters Fade Away as Multiplexes Rise

08:46

In several Indian cities, single-screen theaters, once essential, are gradually disappearing from the urban landscape. In Bangalore, in the south of the country, the closure of certain establishments illustrates the decline of a model that has long allowed generations of moviegoers to access cinema at affordable prices.

The Urvashi, an iconic theater in the city that could accommodate up to 1,200 people, is one of those establishments now doomed to disappear. Like other traditional cinemas, it could not withstand the rise of multiplexes.

From Thousands of Theaters to Less Than 2,000

The decline is particularly striking when viewed from a historical perspective. India had more than 14,000 single-screen theaters in the 1980s. Today, fewer than 2,000 remain.

These establishments generally offered a simple and accessible experience, attracting a popular audience with relatively low ticket prices. They also served as community gathering places, well beyond their function of screening films.

The arrival and proliferation of multiplexes have profoundly transformed viewer habits. Located in shopping malls or modern complexes, they offer multiple films simultaneously and focus on comfort and services that have gradually changed public expectations.

The Disappearance of a Cinema, and a Neighborhood

In Bangalore, the closure of the Urvashi affects not only movie enthusiasts. The businesses surrounding the theater also feel the impact of the loss of its audience.

A neighboring grocer, quoted in the story, remembers the time when moviegoers would come to buy snacks from his shop before or after screenings. With the cinema's closure, foot traffic in the neighborhood has significantly decreased.

This situation illustrates the economic and social role that single-screen theaters could play in their immediate environment. Their disappearance thus alters the activity of entire neighborhoods and erases collective habits that have been ingrained for decades.

A Cultural Memory That is Fading

Beyond commercial concerns, the disappearance of these theaters also raises a heritage question. For many viewers, they are associated with the first films seen with family, outings with friends, and a time when cinema was a major collective event.

The gradual replacement of these establishments by multiplexes marks a profound transformation in the way Indians experience the seventh art.

As the old theaters close their doors, a part of the popular memory of Indian cinema risks disappearing with them.