CHENNAI: On a quiet Sunday morning, a group of youngsters stepped off a bus and walked into Udhayam Theatre complex, their usual spot whenever they had time off work. The silence around the place felt strange. As they walked to the kiosk to buy tickets for Pushpa 2, they were informed by staff that the theatre had shut on Dec 8. Soon, the 1.31-acre plot, where they had spent countless hours, will make way for a residential or mixed-use complex, ending an era for Chennai's moviegoers.
"We watch all our movies here. We buy tickets in person since we are daily wage earners. We didn't know it had been shut down. The AC, screen clarity and audio were great at an affordable price," said Jaisingh, a 25-year-old from Dharmapuri who now stays in KK Nagar.
Udhayam Theatre in Ashok Nagar, opened its doors on May 27, 1983, and entertained generations of film lovers for a little more than 40 years. From Rajinikanth's ‘Sivappu Suriyan' to Kamal Haasan's ‘Sattai', the theatre's screens have witnessed countless blockbusters. On Dec 8, it screened its final film, Pushpa 2, before closing for good. Once bustling with movie posters, crowds and the aroma of popcorn, the complex now sits eerily silent, save for a few longtime staff members.
"I started working here when the theatre was inaugurated. Over the years, I've seen stars such as Vijay, Kamal Haasan and Jayam Ravi visit. This place was a landmark," said a veteran staffer who wished to remain anonymous. "Now, I'll return to my hometown, Tirunelveli."
According to a source, real estate firm Casagrand is in talks to buy this property. “The talks are in the final stages,” he said. Two others in the real estate sector also confirmed it.
As the news started doing rounds, people took to X (formerly Twitter) to recall the fond memories associated with the theatre. “Baasha 125th day - standing in the first row and watching the movie! Will never forget the memories!” a person said in a post.
“It’s a ritual to carry the reel of #ThalaivarVijay’s films on a chariot in Udhayam Theatre. Will miss watching films here,” another person said.
However, a city-based real estate analyst pointed out that this is not the first time the news had surfaced. “In fact, we have been hearing this news for the last 15 years. In 2009, every one was talking about this property being sold, but eventually, nothing moved. The promoter family is huge, and due to certain issues within the family, the deal did not go through,” he said.
There is no confirmation on what the buyer intends to do with the property. But sources aware of the deal said that a luxury project may come up on the land parcel. Real estate analysts said the going price for residential projects in the area is ₹12,000 per sq. ft., and ₹15,000/sq. ft. for luxury projects.
“The ground floor commercial space will fetch about ₹18,000 per sq.ft. if well designed with a good front space, high ceiling height, and ample parking facility to suit the retail business,” the analyst said.
The iconic theatre, spanning more than 1.3 acres in Ashok Nagar, began its journey in 1983. The four-decade-old theatre was featured in several Tamil movies. There are references about the theatre in songs too, including Udhayam theatre-la En idhayathai tholachen (I lost my heart at Udhayam Theatre)
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Udhayam theatre complex at Ashok Nagar, one of the city's leading and long-standing cinema halls, is for sale. Chennai: The iconic Udhayam theatre complex at Ashok Nagar is on the block.
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