A THEATRE TO YOURSELF

CE explores the mushrooming number of private movie lounges in Chennai

- RAKSHITHA PRIYA G

THERE was a time when Chennaiites would drive out to the city's iconic beachside drive-in theatre in ECR, Prarthana Drive-In, to watch a movie under the stars. They'd enjoy the film in their own private space with homemade refreshments or food from the canteen. Though the problem of distance and limited showtimes existed, it was, for many, cinema blended with nostalgia.

Fast forward to today, the city's cinema culture has transformed with multiplexes and realistic visual experiences (IMAX, 3D, 4DX). Alongside these, a more cosy trend has entered the industry: Private Movie Lounges. These are intimate, sound-proof mini theatres, tucked in commercial buildings or alongside cafes, where the screen is entirely yours for a few hours, along with snacks redeemable from initial deposits, and access to various OTT platforms.

"I work as a CGI artist for many television commercials and I often sit in studios with excellent audio and visual equipment; their quality on par with that of the big screen. It got me thinking about the whole concept of a private cinema experience," says Richard Sequeira, founder of Episodes Cafe in Anna Nagar East. Launched in 2023, Episodes Cafe was one of the early spaces in the city to popularise the idea of private movie lounges.

"We offer a mini theatre on a three-hour slot basis and the pricing is based on the number of people, generally starting at ₹1,499 for four people," he adds. Several such lounges in the city started as niche alternatives to cinema theatres, but people use them as places for celebrating special occasions.