End Of An Era: Urvashi Theatre, Bengaluru’s Iconic Single-Screen, To Be Demolished In Feb 2026

In absolutely heartbreaking news, cine buffs in Bengaluru will soon have to bid goodbye to Urvashi Theatre—one of the city’s last surviving single-screens. Built in the 1970s, with a capacity of 1100 people, Urvashi Theatre is no less than a heritage spot that has witnessed cultural movements in the city. In February 2026, the lights will dim, the screen torn away, and the doors shuttered forever. It’s the end of a chapter—the end of an era.

The End Of A Chapter For Urvashi Theatre In Bengaluru

A report by The Times Of India, revealed that Urvashi Theatre in Bengaluru will cease to exist in February 2026. The single-screen theatre will be razed after a couple of months. Nestled on Siddaiah Road, near Lal Bagh, the single-screen theatre has been a part of the city’s shared cultural memory. The serpentine queues outside, the whiff of fresh popcorn and crisp samosas, and the massive movie posters gleaming outside are all what make Urvashi what it is— a soon-to-be distant memory.

It offered an experience no multiplex could match. Fans whistled at the hero’s entry. College students bunked classes for matinee shows. Families gathered for festive shows. It was the go-to place for big-ticket Kannada cinema. Urvashi Theatre’s closure after Cauvery Theatre last year is a grim reminder of the fate of single-screen theatres. Producer Uday K Mehta told TOI that the fall of single-screen theatres (in Karnataka) began five years ago. He predicts that in a couple of years, there will be none.

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The Reason For Its Closure

The only source of entertainment earlier, single-screen theatres now compete with multiplexes and even OTT. It’s highly dependent on a superstar’s release, which earlier was about three-four films a year. Now, it’s seldom. The reason for Urvashi Theatre’s closure is attributed to a property dispute. The lease agreement from 1970 expired in 2018.

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While there is a place for a 45-year extension, it remains in the landowner’s prerogative. The landowner didn’t give consent for the same. With Urvashi Theatre’s demolition in February next year, Bengaluru has lost yet another of its last surviving single-screens. This is the end of an era.

Cover Image Courtesy: X/@PraveenCharan4u