Sun Aug 17 18:21:41 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:
**Kodumudi’s Landmark K.B.S. Theatre, Built by Singer K.B. Sundarambal, Demolished After 56 Years**
**Kodumudi, Erode District, August 18, 2025 (The Hindu) -** The K.B.S. Theatre in Kodumudi, a cinema hall built as a “gesture of gratitude” by renowned playback singer and actor K.B. Sundarambal, has been demolished after remaining shuttered since the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020. The theatre, which stood as a landmark in the town for 56 years, was a cultural cornerstone for the local community.
Sundarambal, who passed away in 1980, famously chose to build the theatre in 1969 over the prospect of building a school in her name, believing that a cinema hall would better reflect her artistic journey. According to her relative D. Sakthi Ganesh, the theatre instantly became the only venue in Kodumudi to watch movies. The next nearest theatre remains to this day some 15km away. Before K.B.S Theatre, residents had to travel as far as 27 km to Karur or 40 km to Erode.
The K.B.S. Theatre was inaugurated on October 28, 1969, with a grand ceremony attended by then-Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, along with actors M.G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa, both of whom also later became Chief Ministers. Ganesh says the opening of the theatre and the stars that attended created a local sensation. The first film screened was “Thunaivan” (1969), a film in which Sundarambal herself acted and for which she won a National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer.
After Sundarambal’s death, the theatre was managed by her family. It operated for several decades before ultimately closing its doors due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. After five years without any screenings, the K.B.S. Theatre was torn down, marking the end of an era for the community of Kodumudi.
First Piper 