Today, cinema halls are everywhere in India, from small towns to big cities. While single-screen theatres once ruled, most have now been replaced by modern multiplexes. As these old theatres slowly disappear, a fascinating question comes up: where did cinema in India actually begin? The answer takes us back more than 100 years, not to Mumbai, but to Kolkata.
India’s first cinema hall opened in 1907
When people think of Indian cinema, Mumbai often comes to mind. But India’s first-ever cinema hall was built in Kolkata in 1907. At a time when films were still new and exciting, this theatre introduced Indian audiences to the magic of watching moving pictures on a big screen. It marked the beginning of organised film screenings in the country.
What was the first cinema hall called?
According to reports, India’s first cinema hall was named Chaplin Cinema, also known as Elphinstone Picture Palace. It was built by Jamshedji Framji Madan, one of the biggest pioneers of Indian cinema. He later went on to create Madan Theatres, India’s first cinema chain.
The theatre was located at 5/1 Chowringhee Place in Kolkata. Sadly, the iconic building no longer exists, as it was eventually demolished.
The man who laid the foundation of Indian cinema
Jamshedji Framji Madan is often called the father of film production in India. His journey began as a helper boy at the Elphinstone Dramatic Club, which later became famous and even toured abroad. Madan eventually settled in Kolkata and bought the well-known Corinthian Hall.
In 1902, he started showing films using a bioscope in an open ground. His passion for cinema grew and in 1907, he opened Elphinstone Picture Palace. The theatre was later renamed Minerva and became popular for screening Hollywood films.
Over the years, political unrest affected the theatre’s business. To revive it, the cinema was renamed Chaplin Cinema, inspired by legendary actor Charlie Chaplin. Despite these efforts, the theatre could not survive and was finally demolished in 2003, closing the curtain on a historic chapter in Indian cinema history.
