"Awesome theater back in 90's". Review on Vetrrivel Theatre - Nanganallur - Chennai

I remember partially about those past days when I first came back to Chennai after 11 yrs of Enjoyment life at Dehradun.  It was 96 when we came back to Chennai and we were in process of building our new home. And hence we stayed at a Rented house with almost nothing good for any entertainment.  In Fact those days Chennai Did not have many places to visit like Malls and so on.

So one night we decided to go for a movie and since those days we did not know much about Chennai and my dad was the only one who knew about Chennai and hence he took us to this Theater "Vetrrivel" situated in Nanganallur.  The movie was "Ullathai allitha" released in 1996 Jan.  But we went for the movie 40 days after its Release.  Those days we only had limited Releases a year and hence movies like these run for at least more than 5 months bravely but do only limited collections.

It was probably our first and last show(As a family) we went for an Late night show.  The Show started by around 9:30 and Ended by 12 at mid night and then we rode back alone at that night.  I guess we got the Balcony seats.  The Price was below Rs.30 for Balcony.

Then after an year after in 1997, we visited this theater for the movie Suryavamsam.  We again got the Balcony seats and was a 6 Pm show.

Though the movie took us all to a new feel but the theater environment was not good as it was with Ullathai allitha.  Because we watched Ullathai allitha in Feb 96 cool weather but we watched Suryavamsam in July 97's hot Evening.  But with the both the movie watching at Vetrrivel theater, it was an different and awesome experience because it was the first time we were at a theater in Chennai(as long as I remember).  And this was the Third time I was in a theater in my whole life!  First being for Jurassic Park at a Theater in Dehradun in 1993 and an unknown Spiritual movie of TR and Simbu(as Kid) in 95 in Thindivanam.

Theater Location -

The theater is Located in the interior of Nanaganallur.   The Theater is located between the Medavakkam main road and GST aka NH45.  Bus Facilities and Autos are there today to reach this theater.

So here are the PROS and CONS -

PROS(as of in 1996) -

1) Large theater Arena.  Has both Ground Arena as well Balcony with over 500 Seats I guess.

2) Parking Lot Available for Bikes and Cars as well.  I am not sure the number of Cars the lot can accommodate but can hold many bikes and Bicycles as well.

3) Good Sound Quality and picture Quality(Note this is back in 90s).

4) Stall for Eateries available inside and outside the theater premises.

5) Ticket pricing were very less those days. May be just about Rs.15 to 30 per person.  Though the ticket counters were crowded as nothing like online bookings were available. But it was a great experience buying tickets those days waiting in hot big line!

6) Fan Facilities and rest room Facilities available at Theater.

CONS(back in 90's)-

1) Transportation was not so good to reach this theater those days.  Little away from the main bus Street.  Only Auto-Rickshaws to reach here, who actually charge a lot!

2) May that be 90's or today, the theater is not so Clean.  Well its a basic theater and its obvious.

3) NO AC.  Its obvious Again. there were almost no AC at any theaters those days.

4) Lots of mosquitoes problems in the theater.  It was big problem.

5) eateries sold inside the theater is also not that hygienic.

The theater today -

Well I never returned back to this theater after Suryavamsam.  No Particular reason but infact I did not go to any other theater between 1999 and 2003. One the reasons was my and brother's Education.  But another reason we never returned to theater is my mother, as she is Concerned about hygiene, this theater is far away in terms of Hygiene.

But I remember getting back to this theater in 2007 to Watch Ajith's Billa with my Friend.  We got the tickets and started to watch the movie but had to leave in 50 minutes of the movie because of an important call.   I actually saw no Improvement with the theater after a decade except one - "Seats" and "Sound quality".  Those days, the Seats were all "Wooden type" but after a Decade it was upgraded to "Cushioned Seats" with push back and the it DTS surround Sound now I guess.

But there were no other improvements at all.  Interiors and exteriors where still dirty. Flooring full of Pop Corns and even Vomiting.  Still No AC.  I did not find any eatery shops outside the theater premises and infact there were no shops inside the theater premises either.

There were no one at the balcony and hence sat freely to watch the movie.  But the Quality of Screens were the same old.  No up-gradation at all.

BUT even today, this theater gets HOT during new releases, especially of Rajini, Kamal, Vijay, Ajith and so on.   Paal Abhishekam and stuff are all still usual with new movies here.

My Brother visits this theater along with his friends very often even today.  Especially during new releases.

VERDICT -

Overall, the theater was best those days suiting almost everyone including Families and couple and was best middle class theater.  But Today, the theater is only best for Friends Circle and new releases alone. Not Suitable for Families and Even middle class couples.   Safety at this theater is good but environment is very bad.

Hence this theater is not Recommended in 2015!

PS - I am actually confused on Rating this Product. But since I always rate theaters based on my experience, I will rate it as it was in 1996-97.