Apsara Theatre

Magic Frames Apsara Theatre
AddressRailway station link road,
Kozhikode, Kerala,
India
Operator Magic Frames
Capacity1013
Construction
Opened8 August 1971
Years active
1971–2023; 2024–present

The Magic Frames Apsara Theatre is a cinema theatre located in the South Indian city of Kozhikode in Kerala, that functioned from 1971.[1] It is located on Link Road near Kozhikode railway station. With 1013 seats, Apsara is one of the biggest cinemas in Kerala and a heritage landmark of Kozhikode.[2]

Overview

Apsara Theatre was inaugurated on 8 August 1971 by Malayalam actors Prem Naseer and Sharada. The family-owned single screen theatre was founded by Thomman Joseph Kochupuraikal. With a 70 mm screen, at the time of its opening, Apsara was advertised as Kerala's largest air-conditioned theatre.[3] It was one of the few theaters in Kerala with more than 1000 seating capacity. The first movie to be screened at Apsara was Abhijatyam directed by A Vincent. Apsara was a family owned theatre. In May 2023, reports came out that Apsara theatre was facing closure due to some disagreement among the members of the family.[4] Also with the advent of multiplexes, it was not financially profitable to run single-screen theatres. On June 28, Apsara had its last show by screening the movie Thrishanku.[5] Following a one-year hiatus, the Apsara Theatre was reopened in May 2024 after it was taken over by Listin Stephen's Magic Frames. It was rebranded as Magic Frames Apsara.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Kozhikode's iconic Apsara Theatre finally draws curtains". English.Mathrubhumi. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  2. ↑ "It's 'The End' for Apsara, Kozhikode's biggest single-screen theatre". OnManorama. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  3. ↑ "Apsara, a reminder of plight of single-screen theatres and cinema-owners". The Hindu. 3 June 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  4. ↑ Ramachandran, Arjun (4 June 2023). "As Iconic Apsara Theatre in Kozhikode rings down the curtain, nostalgia time for film lovers". The South First. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  5. ↑ ലേഖകൻ, മാധ്യമം (31 May 2023). "കോഴിക്കോടിന്‍റെ ഓർമച്ചെപ്പിലേക്ക് കുടിയേറി അപ്സര തിയറ്റർ | Madhyamam". www.madhyamam.com (in Malayalam). Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  6. ↑ Reporter, Mathrubhumi (21 May 2024). "Iconic Apsara theater to reopen by screening Mammootty's 'Turbo' | Mathrubhumi". English Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 4 December 2024.