Kolkata: The art deco-style opera house turned cinema hall at Esplanade, constructed by Maurice Bandmann and Arathoon Stephen 117 years ago, is set to undergo a heritage makeover. This transformation will be similar to Mumbai’s Eros Cinema, with real estate developers’ body Credai signing an MoU with KMC to renovate it at a cost of Rs 5 crore. The renovation will be completed by March 2026.Currently known as Roxy Cinema, it started as Empire Theatre in 1908 before being converted to a cinema hall in 1941. Empire Theatre hosted Uday Shankar’s dance recitals. Others who performed at the Empire include Harry Lauder, Dame Clara Butt, Anna Pavlova, Marie Tempest, and Matheson Lang. After it became Roxy Cinema, the first movie to be screened was the Ashok Kumar-starrer ‘Naya Sansar’ in 1941. Another Ashok Kumar-starrer, ‘Kismet’, was screened in 1943 for a record 186 weeks.Credai Kolkata president Siddharth Pansari said the project is the single largest private investment in the restoration of public infrastructure in Kolkata. “We have pledged to spend Rs 5 crore in doing up the 25,000 sq ft interiors of Roxy Cinema in art deco style. When complete, it will be an auditorium that KMC can use for its programmes or rent out,” said Pansari. Architecture firm Innate, led by founder Anirban Bhaduri, will execute the project.The civil work, including exterior repairs, has already been carried out by KMC. The KMC heritage committee will continue to inspect and supervise the restoration. Mayor Firhad Hakim lauded the Credai Kolkata initiative to step forward and support the restoration project.Roxy was nearly facing the hammer a decade ago when heritage enthusiasts — writer Amit Chaudhuri and Intach Kolkata convenor GM Kapur — filed a PIL. The subsequent change of guard at KMC led to the demolition plan being dumped. The restoration project marks a remarkable turnaround in the theatre’s fortunes.
