It was one among Lenin Rajendran’s many dreams for Malayalam cinema – to have a movie theatre complex in Thiruvananthapuram, conceptualising 90 years of Malayalam cinema’s history. Work on the complex had begun four months ago, but on the day of its completion, the director is no more. The 66-year-old passed away last month at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai, two months after being admitted there for a liver transplant. The Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC), of which he was chairman, is inaugurating the dream theatre on Wednesday, and naming it after Lenin Rajendran.
“The plan to build the theatre had begun seven months ago and the work was finished in four months. As was his dream, it has all the latest facilities,” says Deepa D Nair, managing director, KSFDC.
The theatre, which is housed in the third floor of the KSRTC bus terminal complex in Thampanoor, will have 4K-3D digital projection, Dolby Atmos sound system, JBL speakers, silver screen, advanced 3D systems, pushback seats, modern food amenities and so on. This would be the third cinema hall in the capital under the KSFDC, after Kairali, Sree, Nila and Kalabhavan. It is relatively smaller, with a capacity of 150 seats.
“What is most special is the design theme that celebrates 90 years of Malayalam cinema,” Deepa adds. The theatre will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at 3 pm on Wednesday. Movie screenings will begin on March 1, with four shows a day.
An amount of Rs 2 crore was invested in constructing the theatre. This will be the 17th cinema theatre in the state under the KSFDC, in six districts, in addition to a preview theatre and three studios. The KSFDC is also opening new theatres in Kayamkulam, Payyanur, Perambra, Thalassery and Alagappanagar soon.
The KSFDC was established in 1975 with the idea of bringing back Malayalam movie production from Madras (as Chennai was then called) to Kerala.