Sri Lanka/Jaffna cinema culture
Memories of the golden age of Sri Lanka/Jaffna cinema culture through Uma’s sketches…
Before the 1990s, Jaffna represented a golden era of cinema culture and served as a major center of entertainment in the social life of the region.
Famous theaters such as Rani, Raja, Wellington, Lido, Windsor, Rio, Shanti, Haran, Regal, Manohara, Sridhar, and Mahendra were celebration hubs for cinema lovers in Jaffna town and its surroundings.
Rani (located on Electricity Board Road in front of the Jaffna bus stand) did not have a balcony. Films like M.G.R.’s Naalai Namadhe, Kamal Haasan’s Sakalakala Vallavan, Sivaji Ganesan’s Sorgam, V.P. Ganesan’s Naan Ungal Thozhan, Puthiya Kaatru, Vaadai Kaatru, Pattanathil Bhootham, and Neethiwere screened here. Much of the structure was made of tin sheets, and facilities were limited.
Raja (in front of Windsor Theatre) has a history of visits by M.G.R. and Saroja Devi. Photographs of their visit were displayed near the staircase. Kamal Haasan’s Manmadha Leelai (an adults-only film) was screened here, along with M.G.R.’s Neerum Neruppum, Kavalkaran, Oli Vilakku, and Sivaji Ganesan’s Babu, which ran for long periods and set records.
Wellington (located at the junction of Stanley Road and Hospital Back Road) was also largely made of tin sheets with limited facilities. Films like Sivaji Ganesan’s Vasantha Maaligai, Rajinikanth’s Aayiram Jenmangal, and Rajeev’s Rail Payanangal were screened here.
When a film was released at Wellington and crowds overflowed, it would also be screened at nearby Lido. Since only one print existed, reels were transported by car between theaters and screened alternately. Vasantha Maaligai became the first Tamil film in Jaffna to celebrate a silver jubilee, running for 207 days—something typically achieved only by films of major stars like M.G.R. and Sivaji Ganesan.
Lido (on Stanley Road at the Kasturiyar Road junction) had no balcony and was a narrow, small theater with slightly lower ticket prices. It operated under the same management as Wellington. Films such as Gnanak Kuzhandhai, Paati Sollai Thattathe, Sigappu Rojakkal, and Balu Mahendra’s Azhiyadha Kolangal were screened here.
Rio (behind the old municipal building, opposite Subramaniam Park on Kandy Road) screened films like Muthuraman and Jayalalithaa’s Thikku Theriyatha Kaattil.
Shanti (located opposite the Jaffna Teaching Hospital) was notable for its “super balcony”—a second balcony above the first. Films of Sivaji Ganesan, M.G.R., Gemini Ganesan, Rajinikanth, and Kamal Haasan were screened here.
Haran (also near the Teaching Hospital) had limited facilities and was largely made of tin sheets. Mostly older films were screened here.
Regal (near Veerasingam Hall opposite Jaffna Fort) mainly screened English films. Sometimes the same film would run at Regal and Windsor with a 30-minute gap. Films of James Bond 007 and Bruce Lee would draw huge youth crowds.
Windsor (on Kasturiyar Road) was the largest and most grand theater in Jaffna with the highest seating capacity. Films such as Sivaji Ganesan’s Pilot Premnath, Sudhakar’s Niram Maaratha Pookkal, Kamal Haasan’s Moondru Mudichu, and the Eelam Tamil film Vaadai Kaatru were screened here.
Manohara (at the junction of K.K.S. Road and Navalar Road) was a well-equipped “A” certificate theater with a large parking area. Alaigal Oivathillaiwas screened here.
Sridhar (near Ariyakulam junction on Stanley Road, close to the railway crossing) screened films like Sivaji Ganesan’s Gauravam, M.G.R.’s Meenava Nanban, and films of Jai Shankar.
Mahendra (on Sundikkuli Road opposite Jaffna Pariyovan College) was later purchased by the college and converted into its property.
Apart from these, outside Jaffna town there were many theaters:
- Inuvil – Kalingan (New Kalingan)
- Nelliady – Lakshmi, Mahatma theaters
- Chavakachcheri – Devendra, Wales theaters
- Chunnakam – Nagams theater
- Kankesanthurai – Yarl, Rajanayaki theaters
- Valvettithurai – Yoganayaki, Ranjana theaters
- Tellippalai – Durga theater
- Achchuveli – Liberty theater
- Paruthithurai – Central theater
- Puloly – Castle theater (Puloly Cinema)
- Manipay – Wesley theater
- Kondavil – Latha theater
- Sangaanai – Shanti theater
Inside the theaters, before the movie started and during intervals, vendors would walk around carrying boxes of sweets, roasted chickpeas, betel, and other snacks on their shoulders to sell.
A loud bell would ring to signal the start of the film and the end of intermission.
On Labour Day, the government would reduce ticket prices in all theaters to 1 rupee. On that day, crowds would flood every cinema hall (though some owners screened very old films).
Latecomers would be guided to their seats by staff using torchlights.
Beautiful, large hand-painted banners displaying scenes from the films were placed at theater entrances.
There were also moments when people secretly went to watch films without their families knowing—only to be “caught” when the lights came on at the end.
As the film ended, some would rush to retrieve their bicycles from the parking area, while others hurried to catch the last bus after the night show.
Many such interesting moments still live on in memory—and those reading this would surely have their own similar experiences.
(Note: These details were collected to the best of my ability; there may be some inaccuracies—please excuse them.)
Translation by Hari
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