Chaplin Cinema, Historic movie theater in Chowringhee Place, Kolkata, India.
Chaplin Cinema was a single-screen theater located at Chowringhee Place in Kolkata, combining colonial and post-colonial architectural styles in its structure. The building displayed a blend of period details that spoke to different phases of its development and the city's changing aesthetic preferences.
Jamshedji Framji Madan established the venue in 1907 as Elphinstone Picture Palace, making it Kolkata's first single-screen cinema. The structure underwent various ownership changes and modifications over decades before demolition in 2013.
The cinema carried multiple identities through its lifetime, shifting from its original name to Minerva and eventually Chaplin, reflecting how entertainment venues evolved in the city. These name changes marked the changing tastes and ownership of Kolkata's film culture over the decades.
The cinema no longer operates as it was demolished in 2013 by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation after years of inactivity. Visitors interested in this venue can only experience its history through archival records and photographs today.
The father of renowned Bengali actor Uttam Kumar handled the projection equipment during the cinema's early years. This connection to a celebrated figure in Bengali cinema adds a personal dimension to the venue's place in local film history.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
