From English to Kannada; a screenplay of Gayathri talkies

A  theatre in the heart of the city, housed in a good old building, it looks like any other cinema hall standing since decades. Step inside, you can find yourself besotted with the black and white photographs on the wall giving a peek into history.

Those were the days when watching cinema in a theatre was the privilege of either royals or those associated with the former. Mysore was just spreading its wings embracing modernity, while Bangalore had already emerged as the hub of theatres. It was obvious for most, including the royals, to turn towards the neighbouring city for entertainment.

It was at this juncture, Gayathri talkies saw its birth. It was on June 18, 1948, just 10 months after the country gained independence, the cinema hall came into existence. How it happened is an equally intriguing story.

Recalls M T Ramachandra, the current owner speaking to City Herald: “Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, the then ruler of Mysore, liked watching movies on big screen. Most films then were in English, and Bangalore was the place to watch them.

He encouraged my grandfather Vasthukala Sevasaktha T Cheluvachar to start a cinema hall near to the Palace. This despite the city already having a few theatres.”

Cheluvachar was the palace contractor then. Cheluvachar and his father Maistry
Thimmaichar were well-known names in the construction industry and both had cordial relationship with the palace. The maharaja was benevolent in offering a seed money of Rs 5,000 to create the facility.

The maharaja dedicated the theatre on the afore mentioned day. The first movie screened was ‘Sindbad the Sailor’ in English. It was the era of foreign films and Gayathri talkies soon became popular among cine-lovers for Hollywood flicks. The maharaja and his family members, besides the entourage, used to watch movies here frequently.

On those particular days, entry for others was prohibited, with a board in the front proudly declaring: ‘No show, for the convenience of the royal family’. Till 1972, English films and Gayathri talkies were synonymous.

When the then Central government headed by prime minister Indira Gandhi banned the import of foreign movies, the theatre had to see its worst phase ever. Kannada movies were rare and Tamil and Telugu claimed a lion’s share among other language movies.

However, Tamil and Telugu language movies were screened only during morning hours during weekend. Regular shows then were only three unlike four shows now.

The first Kannada movie screened here was Dr Rajkumar starrer ‘Doorada Betta’ in 1975. It ran for  25 weeks. It also infused a new lease of life for the theatre. Since then, Kannada movies have proved to be a fine replacement for English ones.

The theatre has had many firsts to its credit. All the first seven Bond movies were screened here, besides the first 3D film ‘House of wax’ in 1953 and the first cinemascope film ‘The Robe’ in 1954.

Black and white photographs of the Maharaja and others associated with the royal family visiting the theatre proudly adorn the walls of the theatre. It also takes one on a journey into the past, suffice to say — it was also the choice of royals.

A projector of the bygone days that went idle later has been still preserved in a glass enclosure.

Says Ramachandra in a proud tone: “It’s one among the two projectors switched on by the late Maharaja dedicating the cinema hall”.