National Theatre’s role in bringing cinema to western Chennai

What Happened

The old National Theatre on Arcot Road in Virugambakkam was replaced by a state-of-the-art multiplex-cum-shopping mall, situating cinema within a modern development project. The theatre belonged to a broader enterprise run by National Company, founded by N. Munusamy Mudaliar, which earlier owned and operated two theatres—one in Tambaram and one in Virugambakkam. The Virugambakkam site later became the location for the Chandra Metro Mall. By the 1960s, the venue featured a Bauer B.14 Klang film sound system and a Perlex panoramic screen, signaling an upgrade in film-going experiences for local residents.

Virugambakkam’s transformation occurred as the western Madras film district—especially the Kodambakkam-Vadapalani-Saligramam belt—emerged as the city’s film industry heart. A long-time resident noted Virugambakkam’s rural character before the late 1970s incorporation into Madras Corporation, with fields, mango groves and limited civic infrastructure. Recollections from community members describe a shift from tent theatres and unpaved roads to a modern cinema venue that drew in families and the expanding residential population of nearby areas.

Why It Matters

The redevelopment reflects the broader evolution of Chennai’s film ecosystem and urban growth, linking a historic cinema venue to a modern commercial complex. The move from a traditional theatre experience to a multiplex-marked project illustrates changing consumer expectations and the monetization of cinema within mixed-use development on a site previously tied to a single entertainment function.