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Nanditha Sankar's avatar

This was a great read, looking forward to the rest of the series. I often miss the single screen theatres we had even until mid 2010s before the multiplexes took over. Never heard of Simi theatre. My aaaha moment was always when we passed Sreebala, right next to my house which had the “hmmmph” movie posters starring Shakeela and many others. I would gaze intently to look for any signs of people walking in but little did I realize that these were popular for their midnight shows than pattaapakal ones haha.

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Megha's avatar

Hahahahaha, I’ve only ever heard people talk about Sreebala in hushed tones and seen it in newspaper movie listings. When I started writing this, I even wondered if I had imagined Sreebala’s existence. Doubt maari kitti :D

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Gowri N Kishore's avatar

In my memory, Pettah Sree Karthikeya theater was more often shut than open. I remember watching Twister, Tomorrow Never Dies, and Titanic there. Strange how all three begin with a T. I remember an ammavan saying they were only showing B-grade movies now and another relative saying, "Allalla, ningaludeshichathu Sreebala aane." In its last avatar, it became a Kalyana Mandapam, I think.

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Megha's avatar

Wow, I only knew Pettah Karthikeya as the cinema hall my grandmother used to go to. Speaking of all the movies starting with a T, have you noticed a lot of the peripheral theatres were located in places with starting a P - Pettah Karthikeya, Pattom Kalpana, Peroorkada Janatha, Pappanamcode Sreeragam?

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Gowri N Kishore's avatar

P and S domination aanu theater namesil!

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Nanditha Sankar's avatar

I think Sreebala is now Sreemahalakshmi silks 😂

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Gowri N Kishore's avatar

Bestu.

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Megha's avatar

Love this thread :D

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Anand Sankar's avatar

This is quite nostalgic :) I’m also reminded of Ragam, Sapna and Jose from Thrissur 🥲

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Megha's avatar

Thrissur version ezhuthunno :D

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Amit Charles's avatar

Oh no! "TV off aayi!"

That's how I felt at the end of this part. Please do write about Sree Kumar. Looking forward to the next part. Quite an amazing nostalgic trip.

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Megha's avatar

Haha, thank you. This seems to be a topic that a lot of people are passionate and nostalgic about :o

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