Will it be the end of Bengaluru's iconic cinema house, Fame Shankarnag?

The landmark on MG Road was famous for screening English movies The cinema house was shut for a brief period in 2005 Exhibitors do not agree with the Palike's revised contract

The tussle between film exhibitors and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) over revision of the contract of the Fame Shankarnag Theatre lease agreement seems to be heading nowhere. As a result, the future of single-screen cinema house - city's iconic landmark at the Utility building appears to be bleak. In fact, the single-screen cinema house has been shut since last Friday (June 3, 2017) and this has upset the movie-goers. The theatre which was called 'Symphony' then was named after ace actor and director late Shankarnag. Despite the onslaught of multiplexes, the theatre has managed to survive.

The cinema house was reopened in 2009 after being closed for a brief period in 2005. Since then, it is screening movies successfully, reports Bangalore Mirrior. But then since Friday (June 3, 2017). the theatre is shut.

The theatre was leased out to a private firm in 2008 for Rs 17.5 lakh per month for 10 years. During this period, the BBMP had relaxed the mandatory rule the theatre should screen Kannada movies after the exhibitors expressed their helplessness over it. It has mostly been the English theatre for Bengalureans.

But now, the BBMP is said to have revised the lease period with a stricture that lease amount would be revised for every three years. Exhibitors think it as "too much" in the backdrop of government making Rs 200 mandatory on movie tickets. They feel that movie goers these days prefer multiplexes leaving the single screens to suffer. The irrational hike in rental amount would serve no purpose, claim the exhibitors. Many of them have intentionally stayed off from participating in the bidding process, reports Kannada Prabha.

But the Palike officials argue that unless the rental amount is hiked, it would be a burden on the Palike coffers. "Although, we have called for tender to renew the contract, the exhibitors are insisting on reducing the bid amount. They want the contract rules to be relaxed. We will need some time to discuss on it before deciding on it," Mayor G Padmavathi told Kannada Prabha.

The city's another landmark single screen theatre named after celebrated movie maker Puttanna Kanagal was razed down to make way for a shopping complex in Jayanagar.