The viral hit song ‘Monica’ from Rajinikanth’s upcoming film Coolie where actor Pooja Hegde and Soubin Shahir shine in a high-energy performance plays at Antara, a brand new cinema screen at the revamped KG Cinemas. “This is the first time I am watching ‘Monica’ on the big screen,” says Lokesh Kanagaraj, the film’s director while inaugurating the two screens Antara and Pallavi, adding that he often bunked classes in college to catch a show at KG theatre.
The new screens boast of plush seating, cutting edge projection technology, and Dolby Atmos sound systems
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Drawing a parallel with the ever-expanding Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU), Sridharr Krishna, director of KG Cinemas, says the cinema that started with four screens — Ragam, Thaanam, Pallavi and Anupallavi — is set to be reimagined as nine screens. “Pallavi and Antara are the first of many transformations that will unfold. Lokesh is from here and the audience can relate to him. We believe his thinking and ours are aligned in offering the best cinematic experience for the audience.”
The new screens boast of plush seating, cutting edge projection technology, and Dolby Atmos sound systems, all aimed at an immersive experience. “KG Theatres was started in 1981 by my grandfather, R Ramakrishna, with a vision to provide the best entertainment at an affordable cost. That has been our mission then and now. We have renovated Pallavi into two screens with the best of technologies. We don’t overcharge and continue to be the most affordable multiplex in the city,” explains Sridharr adding that the large format screen dimension and auditoriums equipped with Hugo Hackness Screen (specially engineered to reduced speckles) make an engaging visual impact.
“Immaterial of the aspect ratio of images in which films are made, the audience can enjoy a Premium Large Format experience with full images in our 200-seater cinema hall. We have added 4K laser projection. We stay on top of the game by going the extra mile. The phase I renovation of Pallavi and Antara will set the benchmark for other screens. While families want to have a good time and go back home without feeling a pinch in the pocket, the experience comes at cost. We want to strike a balance,” explains Sridharr.
In the new layout, the seating rows are generously spaced to make room for comfort. While the food counter feature constants like vegetable, paneer, and egg puffs, there are also pastas, chaats and pizzas to choose from. Over chocolate truffle cake, papdi chaat, and mint mojito, S Shanmugavel, general manager, recalls the days when Rajnikanth’s film Baasha ran for 365 days to packed halls. “ In recent times, Lokesh’s film Vikram starring Kamal Hassan ran for 100 days and set a new record. That good content draws crowds has been proven with the success of recent films like 3BHK and Thalaivan Thalaivi.”
Tracing the four-decade journey, Sridharr says, a movie outing has evolved into an ‘experience’. “We were the first to embrace digital cinema projection, which is today’s gold standards. Our Raagam theatre opened with the largest screen in South Asia. In 2000, we brought in the first digital cinema projector here. We have retained the original structure of the building complete with the staircase, but keep adding innovations in technology and seating, to enhance the experience.”
However, certain things remain unchanged. For example, safety is always a priority. “Even today, it is considered safe for women and families to watch movies here. It’s a value that’s part of our history. We guard it. Also, reliability. We have catered to over nine crore people over four decades. There have been minimal complaints. Even today, our theatre draws people in lakhs, every year.”
The seating rows are generously spaced to make room for comfort
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
In the movie business, he says, Coimbatore is considered a strong centre in Tamil Nadu in terms of revenue share and acceptance of any new technology. “People are passionate about cinema and set the bar high. The industry can do better with films that are not just creative but also relatable. In recent times, Amaran inspired by a real life story worked well because of the story-telling. Everyone knew the story, but they came to catch it in theatres. Films like Dragon, Tourist Family and Manjummel Boys touched a chord. Coimbatore audience is all encompassing and consume Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, English and Hindi films in equal measure, which is unique.”
He calls cinema business a resilient industry that keeps evolving. “Two decades ago, we faced threats from cable television networks, then VCDs and DVDs and now, OTT. But nothing has stopped people from coming to theatres. Earlier, people watched the same movie many times. That has come down,” he says, adding, “We used have regulars too, sometimes twice or thrice a week. We would smile and nod like family every time they walked in.”
Published – September 02, 2025 03:56 pm IST
