Mangaluru: The 1926 established first cinema theatre of Dakshina Kannada district, ‘New Chitra’ has closed the movie screening since one month as of audiences shortage.

The cinema theatre is located near Car Street in Mangaluru city and was famous for screening movies until the last two decades. The theatre was established by Vitaldas Pai, a native of Brahmavar supported by an investor in the year 1926. The first cinema hall in the district was named after, ‘Hindusthan Cinema’ and the name was changed and remanded after ‘New Chitra’ in 1936.

During the early years of the theatre, it was used to showcase silent movies and later succeeded to attract the attention of the people from various parts of the district. A number of movies in languages including, Kannada, Tulu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, English and others were screened in the hall. New Chitra was successfully screened Hollywood movie, ‘Titanic’ and other famous Hollywood movies soon after the hall got renovated.

New Chitra cinema hall has witnessed number programmes other than screening of movies including, music concerts, dramas and even marriages following non availability of halls in the city during late 1950s. The theatre can accommodate 572 audiences at a time with sufficient space. As of now the theatre is owned by K Devadas Pai and his brother Shanker Pai, grandsons of K Vitaldas Pai.