India’s first seaside drive-in theatre and an iconic Chennai landmark within the Nineties, Prarthana Seaside-Drive-in theatre is all set to make method for a premium residential complicated. 

Situated on the scenic East Coast Highway (ECR), Prarthana Seaside-Drive-in theatre and restaurant complicated was developed by N Devanathan in 1991 to offer an open air film viewing expertise. It additionally has an air-conditioned indoor model, Aradhana theatre, inside its precincts.

Metropolis-based actual property developer Baashyaam Group appears to have acquired the property. The true property firm, recognized for its premium dwelling areas and luxurious residences, has begun demolition actions of the present construction. businessline visited the now defunct theatre complicated.  “It is going to take at the least 3-6 months for the venture to take form and it’s going to be an enormous residential complicated,” stated an individual on the web site.

Monetary particulars of the deal are unknown. Baashyaam Group didn’t reply to an e mail despatched by businessline, whereas a member of the family of Devanathan selected to not remark. 

Prarthana Seaside-Drive-in theatre joins the listing of single display theatres which have been pressured to close operations after the Covid pandemic. “The theatre has not been purposeful for about 4 years,” an individual working on the web site stated.

It joins the ranks of different distinguished theatres and movie studios in Chennai which have recently been transformed into residential or industrial buildings. 

In 2020, the relations of veteran actor Sivaji Ganesan and actual property developer Akshaya Pvt Ltd introduced the launch of ‘Akshaya Shanti’, a industrial workplace venture changing the long-lasting Shanti Theatre in Mount Highway. Legendary movie manufacturing homes reminiscent of AVM Studios and Vijaya-Vauhini Studios have additionally given a portion of their property to towering residential complexes and buying malls.

“It’s yet one more lack of a key landmark in Chennai. Lots of people have nostalgic reminiscences of spending time watching motion pictures within the open air. The theatre featured a number of Tamil movies. Will probably be tough to arrange such drive-in theatres sooner or later,” stated Ramesh Bala, an leisure business tracker.

Bala stated quite a lot of single display cinemas discovered it tough to outlive after the pandemic within the midst of competitors from the rising variety of multiplexes. As an example, Prarthana itself has a number of rivals in its neighborhood, together with a 16-screen Mayajaal Multiplex in ECR, in addition to Inox multiplex (8-screens) and Cinepolis ( 8-screens) within the adjoining Previous Mahabalipuram Highway (OMR).

Prarthana had a 4,500 sq ft large display and devoted bay for every automotive. Its elevated ramps supplied a greater viewing expertise, among the audiences recalled. There was additionally a 500-seater gallery for individuals who didn’t need to watch from inside their vehicles. 

Sridhar, a film buff and banker, vividly remembers his fond reminiscences of watching Mani Ratnam’s 2002 movie Kannathil Muthamittal at Prarthana Seaside-Drive-in theatre.

He stated Prarthana had 7.30 pm and 10.30 pm exhibits solely and household audiences would come to expertise motion pictures within the chill breeze and to relish the favored dosa varieties on the canteen.

“Individuals would unfold bedsheets and pillows and lie on the bottom in entrance of the house allotted to their vehicles and watch motion pictures. Children would sit on high of their vehicles or use the open gallery to observe motion pictures. It was nice enjoyable,” Sridhar recalled.

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