First Cinema Theater in Tamilnadu

A number of Laurel and Hardy silent films were screened at the theater. My grandfather renamed the theater as 'Grand theater'. India's fast talkie (speaking movie) 'Alam Araa' was released in the theater in June 1931. The first Tamil talkie Kalidass was also released in our theater on 31st October in the same year and ran successfully. My grandfather then changed the name of the theater as 'Kinima Central'.

After the huge hit run of Kalidass, the other films acted by Thiyagaraja Bagavather such as Sinthamani, Sivakavi, Haridas, Sathyaseelan, Ambikapathi and others were regularly released in the theater. Most of the films ran for months and some of them for years. Similarly a number of Modern Theaters films acted by P.U.Chinnappa, such as Manonmani, Uthama Puthiranm Aryamala and Jegathalaprathapan were released in our theater and ran successfully. Later the film Aryamala was re-released as Kathavarayan with Sivaji as hero and he also acted in the remake of Uthamaputhiran in the same name.

My grand father Murugesa Mudaliar died in 1942 and my father Paramasiva Mudaliar started managing the affairs of the theatre. I was also managing the theater along with my father till his death in 2006. After his death, I had taken the complete responsibility of managing the theater.

In the beginning of the year 2013, I had demolished the theatre to construct a new big complex. I am planning to open a full-fledged theater Paramasivan Theater carrying the name of my father within the complex shortly.

A number of films had celebrated 100 days and silver jubilees in our theater. Almost all the big artists had come to our theater. All of them had great respect for my grand father and my father. Before started acting in films M.G.R.was staying in a small upstairs portion at Walltax road. I had seen a number of his dramas staged at Ottravadai Theatre in Waltaxl road. Latter MGR had become a close friend of my father and he continued to be our family friend till his death.