Know About Iconic Apsara Theatre in Kozhikode
The Apsara Theater in Kozhikode, Kerala, was reported to have closed its doors on May 29, prompting a surge of activity on social media. When inquiries were made, a picture emerged.Indeed, the workers received an unexpected message from between the theater curtains. The family-owned cinema was closed due to disagreements between members.
By coincidence, the latest film to be screened at Apsara Theater is Thrishanku, which features Arjun Ashoka and Anna Ben in leading roles.The theater was packed until recently and recorded good collections for 2018 and Pachuvum Athbutha Vilakkum.Kozhikode once had many single screen cinemas which eventually closed due to the advent of multiplexes.Davison, Pushpa, Blue Diamond and Sangam were permanently closed. Meanwhile, Radha, Coronation and Crown underwent major renovations.
However, the Apsara theater survived the competition for a long time in a large hall that could accommodate more than 1,000 people at the same time.In fact, it has existed for 51 years next to the Kozhikode station.Nevertheless, the matter is already settled. Apsara Theater was established on August 8, 1971 by former Malayalam actor Prem Nazir and actress Urvashi Sharadha.
The premiere movie was Aabhijathyan (August 12). Directed by A Vincent, the film starred Madhu and Sharadha.The theater began the modern era of watching movies. In fact, it was the first AC cinema in Kozhikode.Second class tickets cost ₹ 1 and ₹ 2 so it was bliss for common man to watch movies in AC hall. But getting tickets from the cave ticket booths was not an easy task.It is still not known who introduced the cave ticket booths to theaters in Kerala. Some ticket booths were up to half a kilometer long. When the movie comes out, those counters are packed and it's hard to breathe in those caves.
GP Ramachandran, a prominent film critic from Kerala, stated that the experience of getting sat in long lines for hours when buying deluxe tickets was exhausting.Ramachandran completed his university studies in Kozhikode. He recalled that in 1971, the place was not the best, nor was the traffic."Unlike today, it was surprising that the theater was built in a place where there were no proper roads.
Even the current railway connection did not exist when the cinema was built. Development came long after the existence of the theater," he explained.Apsara Theater had a great hall equipped with oversized 70 mm screens and premium seating that resembled stadiums.About the same time the Sangam Theater was also open, but its seats were of the usual type, as seen in any hall.The theater had 1296 seats and a 62x30 curved screen. It also had a 6-channel stereo sound system and an RCA photophone projector.The theater had five keynote speakers and 48 speakers at the opening.Art films shownApsara theater is known for showing art films.
Midday shows (at 12:30 p.m.) were booked by art filmmakers. "The time was reserved specifically for art films. However, film society screenings were held at Pushpa Theater and Sangam, Ramachandran said.Davison Theater was located in Chintha Valappu area near Old Bus Stand and Palayam Market.Radha Theater was located at the popular junction of SM Street in Kozhikode."Audiences visited these theaters regularly and they never showed art films. But films by Bharathan and other well-known directors were shown in these popular theaters," recalled Ramachandran.
Industry insiders have revealed that there is a family rift over the Apsara Theater property and a lawsuit is pending in court.The theater is not operating as before because the family wants to sell the property. None of the family members can comment on the matter.Several individual theaters in Kozhikode city and Kozhikode district have closed recently.According to a study published by Sreesanth K in Global Media Journal, Kozhikode Taluk alone had 58 cinemas, including A, B and C centers earlier. However, 40 of them stopped showing movies.Most of these cinemas have been replaced by commercial complexes and other establishments.