Before the multiplex theatres took over the city thirty years ago, movie houses were active in the villages of Kerala. If you've ever wanted to go back to those old days of watching movies on wooden benches in thatched cinema baskets, there's a chance for that. "Santosh Theatre" in Chengannur Mundankavi is providing you with that opportunity.
The golden opportunity for this is being prepared in the "Chengannur Peruma" held before the Champions Boat League boating competition organized by the Tourism Department. "Cinema Kotaka" is organized by the Kerala Film Academy and Film Development Corporation. Kotaka is the brainchild of MLA Saji Cherian, who was also the former Minister of Cinema. Olamenja Cinema Kotaka is being built at the same place where Santhosh Theater used to function in Mundankavi.
Seating will be wooden benches and iron chairs. For ten days beginning on the 25th of this month, ten old movies will be shown in matinée and first showings. There will be a local tea stall, a murukan peedika, a book stall, and an exhibition of old film equipment. Cinema Kotaka was started by Hailesh and his team, who are designers of various events including the film festival, under the leadership of the secretary of the film academy, Ajo. Santosh Theater in Mundankao ceased operations in the nineties. Later, Sagarika Theater also functioned here for some time. If you want to relive the Kotaka era, you can relive those old movie scenes.
