Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February

Tripoto
1st Dec 2015
Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 1/27 by Chendilk
Asia's last touring talkies in Tirupparankundram
Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 2/27 by Chendilk
The sand bed or 'tharai' ticket
Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 3/27 by Chendilk
Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 4/27 by Chendilk
Spacious. Over 3.5 acres
Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 5/27 by Chendilk
The 'bench' ticket @ ₹12 !
Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 6/27 by Chendilk
Mr Selvam who manages the canteen
Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 7/27 by Chendilk
Cabin Room
Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 8/27 by Chendilk
Operator of the lamp arc projector
Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 9/27 by Chendilk
dts sound system - best in class
Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 10/27 by Chendilk
Operator of the digital projector
Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 11/27 by Chendilk
View from the projection room
Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 12/27 by Chendilk
Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 13/27 by Chendilk
Reel Rewinding system
Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 14/27 by Chendilk
Canteen - all snacks @₹5
Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 15/27 by Chendilk
Tea @ ₹8
Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 16/27 by Chendilk
Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 17/27 by Chendilk
Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 18/27 by Chendilk
Movie just after 'Mottai' in Murugan temple
Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 19/27 by Chendilk
Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 20/27 by Chendilk
Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 21/27 by Chendilk
Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 22/27 by Chendilk

Madurai !

Around 10 kms away is another famous temple town Tirupparankundram, the presiding deity being Lord Murugan or Subramanya.

Behind the temple is a landmark waiting to fade into oblivion.

Sri Lakshmi Talkies is the LAST TOURING TALKIES IN ASIA.

Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 23/27 by Chendilk

Touring Talkies served the needs of remote and interior villages where it was unviable to construct permanent cinema halls. So, cinema went 'touring' and tents would be pitched for a week or so and then move on to the next location. In Tamilnadu they were called ' tent kottais' for this reason.

Later they were refined into semi-permanent thatched roof structures.

Sri Lakshmi Talkies in Tirupparankundram is the last remnant semi thatched Talkies. 

I was there two weeks ago. Tamil movie Rudramadevi was running.

Two shows - 6.30 pm and 10 pm.

They start the shows with clockwork precision even if there is only one viewer.

At 6.15 pm sharp, acting on cue, ticket counter was open and a song ' Vetri Vinayaka, Veera Vinayaka' invoking Lord Ganesha  started signalling the local folks. After the customary devotional song, they switched over to the latest Tamil hits.

Seating is divided into 'tharai' or floor which meant one would fave to sit on a sand bed. It offered maximum comfort as viewers could stretch themselves and watch  movies. Some even brought pillows for comfort.

Interestingly Tharai is reserved for ladies only @₹5 !

Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 24/27 by ChendilkPhoto of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 25/27 by Chendilk

The bench ticket for ₹12 

The ultimate luxury was 'chair' class @ ₹15

Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 26/27 by Chendilk

The canteen has three staple items, popcorn, puff and sweet bun, all priced at ₹5 each.

A family of four can enjoy a movie and have a bite for just ₹100 ! 

Spread over three and half acres Sri Lakshmi Talkies offers the latest dts sound with amazing clarity in picture and sound.

This Talkies was started by Subramanya Gurukkal, a priest of Murugan temple in Tirupparankundram. 

Today it is managed by his son Swaminatha Gurukkal continuing the spirit of his father .

With Tirupparankundram coming under Madurai corporation limits, guidelines are much more stringent and such semi permanent structures are not allowed.

in February 2016, Sri Lakshmi Talkies will fold up its 'tent' and the curtains will be down to yet another heritage symbol that the 50s and 60s generation were used to.

Photo of Asia's Last Touring Talkies in Madurai to close down in February 27/27 by Chendilk

I was alerted by a news item in Dinamalar paper and took the next train to Madurai to capture the story for posterity.

How to reach Tirupparankundram : Plenty of buses ply from Madurai Periyar bus stand near the railway station.

From the temple it is better to get into an auto rickshaw and ask for Lakshmi Talkies and it takes a winding road behind the hill.

Returning to Madurai after the night show is not a problem. Madurai is known as ' Thoonga Nagaram' or the city that never sleeps and you can choose auto or bus to get back to town.

And even at 2 am, you can gorge on hot, fluffy idlies or 'parottas' with succulent 'salna', a gravy that blends so well.

but this would call for a separate post on Madurai Street Food ! Watch this space !