5 Best Old School Movie Theaters In Mumbai

Mumbai is home to some of the oldest movie theaters in the country. Once glamorous and thriving, these old, dilapidated buildings mostly continue to exist primarily as landmarks and heritage sites. However, not all of yesteryear’s cinema houses have been faced with the same fate. Here are five movie theatres that have existed almost as old as cinema itself in this city, and yet continue to screen fabulous films for loyal patrons.

1. Maratha Mandir

Cinema, School, Theater

Maratha Mandir

The Maratha Mandir is mostly known today for having screened Bollywood blockbuster Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, for 20 years straight from its release in 1995 to 2015. But, this iconic theater has more legendary feats to its history of over 50 years. The Bollywood classic Mughal-E-Azam premiered here in 1960 and ran continuously for six years. And as any film buff from that era will excitedly recall, actor Dilip Kumar rode on a horse to the theater at its premiere! Even a bunch of elephants and horses were brought to the cinema to celebrate the premiere. However, the first film to have premiered here was Sadhna, starring Sunil Dutt and Vyjayanthimala in 1958.

22, Maratha Mandir Marg, Agripada, +18 001 90 000

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Surrounded by spools in Maratha Mandir's projection room with the legend Jagjivan Maru who has been playing DDLJ for 20 years straight and holds a world record of watching the film 7000 times. Yes, Seven Thousand.

A post shared by ɴᴀᴛᴀsʜᴊᴀ (@natashjarathore) on Sep 13, 2015 at 1:21am PDT

2. Edward Theater

Cinema, School, Theater

Edward Theater

Founded in 1914, this cinema house is named after King Edward, who had visited the city the same year. This independent theater with old yet striking architecture screens everything from current releases, reruns of 80s and 90s bollywood hits to foreign cinema classics from Wolfgang Becker to Jean Luc Godard. However, the theater’s most famous show is said to have been its 1974 screenings of Jai Santoshi Maa, a low-budget devotional film which became one of the biggest blockbusters of the year.

Edward Cinema, Kalbadevi Road, Marine Lines East, Tak Wadi, Lohar Chawl, Kalbadevi

3. Regal Cinema

Cinema, Movie Theater, School, Theater

Regal Cinema

This Art Deco movie theater is considered to have been the first air-conditioned theater of India. The theater opened in 1933 with The Devil’s Brother starring Laurel and Hardy. The cinema house was where the country’s coveted Filmfare Awards function was first introduced in 1954, and is still relevant today, having served as one of the lead theaters hosting the 2015 Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) Film Festival. Regal was designed by famous architect Charles Stevens with interior work by Czech artist Karl Schara.

Old Custom House Rd, Apollo Bandar, Colaba, +02 222 021 017

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Eros Cinema | Churchgate, Mumbai

A post shared by Humayunn Niaz Ahmed Peerzaada (@humayunnpeerzaada_photographer) on Jul 14, 2016 at 9:54am PDT

5. Eros Cinema

Building, Cinema, School

Eros Cinema

This iconic cinema house is almost as relevant today as it was back when it opened in 1938. With a seating capacity of 1,204, it has managed to retain a loyal patron base over decades. Its historic significance notwithstanding, the cinema house’s efforts to stay updated, including installing new sound systems and digital projectors used by multiplexes have definitely helped it to stay popular. The cream building, partially faced with red Agra sandstone and blending Victorian Gothic and Art Deco styles is a striking reminder of the grandeur of yesteryear’s Bombay.

42, Cambata Building, North Wing, Maharshi Karve Road, Churchgate, +02 222 822 335

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