Cinema has been one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the city of Kolkata, India and movie theatres since the 20th century. And movie theatres are major entertainment venues in the city.[1]
There are many single screen and multiplex halls in the city.
See main article: Chaplin Cinema (Kolkata). Chaplin Cinema is one of the oldest cinema halls in Kolkata, established in 1907. The cinema is located in Hogg Street.
See main article: Globe Cinema (Kolkata). Globe Cinema is a single screen cinema hall and heritage building located in Lindsay Street (opposite New Market entrance)[2]
See main article: Jyoti Cinema (Kolkata). Jyoti Cinema is located in Lenin Sarani. In the 1970s this movie theatre created a sensation by screening 70mm films. In 2008 the theatre was closed.
See main article: Lighthouse Cinema (Kolkata). Lighthouse Cinema was a single screen cinema hall and heritage building located in Humayun Place in New Market, next to New Empire
See main article: Metro Cinema (Kolkata). Metro Cinemas is a uniplex cinema hall and a heritage building located in Jawahar Lal Nehru Road (Esplanade),[3]
See main article: New Empire Cinema (Kolkata). New Empire Cinema is a single screen cinema hall located in Humayun Place in New Market, (opposite Shreeram Arcade).
See main article: Paradise Cinema (Kolkata). Paradise Cinema is a single screen cinema hall located in Bentinck Street (Esplanade)[4]
See main article: Priya Cinema (Kolkata). Priya Cinema is a uniplex cinema hall situated in Rashbehari Avenue, near Deshapriya Park[5]
See main article: Roxy Cinema (Kolkata). Roxy is located in Esplanade, Kolkata. Once an Opera House it was converted into a movie theatre in the early 1940s. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose came to this theatre to watch Ashok Kumar-starrer Kismat.
See main article: Star Theatre, Kolkata. Star Theatre is a cinema and theatre hall initially located in Beadon Street, later moved to Bidhan Sarani. This theatre was built in 1883.
See main article: Mitra Cinema Hall, Calcutta. Mitra was a cinema hall, located in Bidhan Sarani. Mitra began its journey as Chitra in 1931 and its inauguration was graced by Subhas Chandra Bose.
See main article: Elite Cinema Hall, Calcutta. Elite was a cinema hall, located in S.N. Banerjee Road.
In the last decade of the 20th century, a kilometre-long stretch of north Calcutta had as many as 9 single screen cinema halls; Uttara, Sree, Rupbani, Radha, Purnasree, Mitra, Minar, Darpana and Talkie Show House.[6] Rupbani was inaugurated and christened by Rabindranath Tagore himself.
See main article: Nandan (Kolkata). Nandan is a Government sponsored cinema located in A.J.C. Bose Road, (near Rabindra Sadan. The theatre was inaugurated by Satyajit Ray in 1985. There are four screens Nandan–I, Nandan–II, Nandan–III and Nandan–IV here. In Nandan–I and Nandan–II films are regularly screened.