Some Theatres of George Town

And so, on to the final piece chronicling my visit to George Town with Stephen Hughes. This concerns Stephen’s prime area of interest, namely films and theatres. There we were on the rickshaw when he suddenly asked me, “Have you also not read in several articles that Minerva theatre has been demolished?”  I replied that I had and also recollected what several elders had said about this unique theatre which was on the first floor of a building. “Then what about this poster?” asked Stephen pointing out to an evidently new advertisement for some movie which claimed that daily shows were on at the Minerva. Our rickshaw man became all animated at this point and said that Minerva was still standing and also in business. And so off we went. Sure enough the building was intact and as Stephen had told me earlier, stood above a flourishing godown into which paddy bags were being unloaded from a truck. The owner of Minerva was woken from his slumbers by the labourers and soon we were inside the theatre.

It is a theatre at a single level, approached by a long stairway that divides into two after a first landing. On side of the hall is a vast terrace that at one time according to Stephen had a garden. The theatre once catered to a largely upper class and European clientele, though that it is difficult to imagine now. What is of greatest importance is that after the demolition of the Crown on Mint Street, this is the oldest  surviving theatre in Madras having begun life as the National in 1914 (if I got Stephen right).

Mr Batcha, the owner, informed us that the theatre had been shut for two years when the previous lessees of the place could not run it. He then took it over, did some renovations and got it going. It now has three shows a day with each show attracting two hundred people. The theatre now bears the name Batcha (Minerva).

It is a theatre at a single level, approached by a long stairway that divides into two after a first landing. On side of the hall is a vast terrace that at one time according to Stephen had a garden. The theatre once catered to a largely upper class and European clientele, though that it is difficult to imagine now. What is of greatest importance is that after the demolition of the Crown on Mint Street, this is the oldest  surviving theatre in Madras having begun life as the National in 1914 (if I got Stephen right).

From Batcha (Minerva) we went on to Select, another long-standing theatre which according to Stephen had been used for entertainments other than cinema also. It had long narrow passages leading to the first floor on both ends of the building which were for patrons wanting to gain access to the first floor. Now a staircase inside the building serves the same purpose. Unlike Batcha (Minerva), Select has the full complement – ground floor, rear stall and balcony. It is really huge inside and has of course, sadly seen better days. Though I have been to Thatha Muthiappan Street several times, it was entirely thanks to Stephen that I lifted my eyes and saw the full façade of Select. I was amazed that I had all along missed the small gables and the pediment which according to Stephen once had a medallion depicting Queen Victoria. This theatre has three shows a day too.

Two other theatres, the Murugan and the Broadway also survive in Town. I must visit them soon.