At a time when single screen theatres are vanishing from the entertainment landscape of Tamil Nadu, it is indeed a delight that South India’s first permanent theatre remains open for business, screening a variety of films.
The ‘Variety Hall’ cinema in Coimbatore was established in 1914 by Samikannu Vincent, a pioneer in cinema, and his brothers. Earlier, the brothers had tasted success in the ‘touring talkies’ (tent kottai) business, travelling across Coimbatore, Erode, the Nilgiris and Tiruppur.
