Mangaluru, Jun 2: The era of standalone cinema theaters with ‘Housefull’ signs is fading in Mangaluru, with many theaters closing down and the remaining ones struggling to survive. Once home to over 35 single theaters, the coastal region of Karnataka now has only 12 functioning single screens due to the rise of multiplexes.
Several factors contribute to this decline, including the perceived drop in quality of contemporary films and the convenience of OTT platforms, which offer new releases at home. Notable theaters like Vinayaka in Kundapura and Santhosh in Sullia are reportedly on the brink of closure for renovations. Historically, Mangaluru had eight to ten theaters within a six to eight km radius, but many, such as Amrit Talkies, Platinum, New Chithra, Srinivas, Central Theater, and Jyoti Talkies, have shut down.
Some taluks, including Sullia, Bantwal, and Puttur, no longer have single screen theaters. Bharat theater remains in Belthangady, while Amarashree in Moodbidri is undergoing renovation. Currently operational theaters include Suchitra, Prabhat, Ramakanti, Roopavani in Mangaluru, Kalpana, Alankar, Diana in Udupi, Radhika, Planet in Karkala, Shankar in Byndoor, Nataraj in Suratkal, and Krishna in Kasaragod. However, they face challenges due to a lack of new releases.
The past saw around 12 Tulu films released annually, but in 2024, only three films—Madimaye, Gabbar Singh, and Balipe—have been released in the last five months. The decline in Tulu cinema popularity further limits content for single screen theaters.
This trend is not unique to Mangaluru. Karnataka, which once had over 1400 single theaters, now has only 200. Without significant changes to adapt to evolving consumer preferences and industry dynamics, single screen theaters may become obsolete.