Wed Jan 01 13:37:12 UTC 2025: ## Coimbatore’s Historic Central and Kanagadhara Theatres to Become Commercial Complex
**COIMBATORE, January 1, 2025** – Two iconic Coimbatore theatres, Central and Kanagadhara, established in 1957, are set to be demolished and converted into a commercial complex, marking the end of an era for moviegoers. The theatres, with a combined seating capacity of 1,500, were known for exclusively screening English and Hindi films and for being pioneers in introducing advanced sound systems like TTN and Dolby, as well as a 70mm screen.
The venues held significant historical importance, having played a role in the lives of late Chief Ministers M. Karunanidhi and M.G. Ramachandran, given their connection to nearby studios established in the 1930s. The closure follows a legal dispute and the theatre’s inactivity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This latest conversion adds to a growing list of Coimbatore theatres that have been repurposed into commercial spaces in recent years, including Delite, Samy, Raja, Royal, Irudhaya, Arul, Kavitha, and Geethalaya. The news has saddened many cinephiles who remember the theatres fondly.
First Piper 