Sangam Cinemas, Whats the Story?
in Chennai, I hate Sathyam Cinemas, I think its over priced and abuses its monopoly power. In search of other theatres to watch movies, about 6 yrs ago, when I got mobility, I landed up on Sangam Cinemas. Ive seen it change from a run down shack, 6 yrs ago to a decent theatre comparable to the standards of Devi and Abirami, at least the interiors.
Recently, over the past few years, they employed the colours of orange and blue, now that should seem familiar to the Sathyam fans like Keerthi. Yes those are the very same colours of Sathyam Cinemas. So I was wondering if Sangam had been brought over by Satyam. If Satyam did take over Sangam, they would ruin it. Yes Satyam taking over Sangam will kill it. they will price the tickets in such a way that the local crowd cant afford the tickets. No cat calls and whistles when Vijay sings ‘Appadi Podu’ sucks. Cat calls and whistles are an integral part of watching tamil movies, especially for masala movies. Watching a Rajini movie at Albert is a surreal experience, its all because of the rasigar crowds. If Satyam did take over Sangam, they would kill this ambience. Watching tamil movies at Sangam would become boring, and I would have to go in search of greener pastures. It seemed like my worst fears came true when I saw Sangam had an orkut group. An orkut group for a local theatre!!!! Now that’s weird, only theatres like Satyam have orkut groups, namely upmarket over priced bullshit places. But a place like Sangam?? And Sangam even had online booking.
Now this convinced me that Satyam had bought over Sangam, they were lookin to expand, and signs pointed to Sangam being brought over. I was disappointed, heartbroken, Satyam has ruined another good theatre in the city, have they bought over the theatre? Any news on it?
From what I hear, which isnt conclusive, it seems Sangam is trying to become the numero uno for tamil movies, like Satyam is for hindi/english movies. And it’s been completely redone. This is fine, but then the similar colours to Satyam still puzzles me. Any news on it?
well..this is the first time i came across this particular post i honestly dont agree with your post that satyam is over priced because it is a lot cheaper than mayaajaal pk..yea maybe they are pricey about tickets..but sangam is no where far behind it..they charge 70 bucks per ticket and sell the eating stuff like pop corn and chocolates at double rate of what its sold outside..whereas satyam doesnt do that…so considering all this i would definitly say sangam is expensive…cheers..=)
@–>
sangam was not always like this, which is why im wondering if Satyam has bought it out
Well, somebody seems to have forgotten their Prozac dosage today. Satyam is a monopoly?? Puh-leee-ze ! Your gripe doesn’t hold much water, dude. In general, I like Rajini and Vijay movies in equal measure with the ‘ambience’, but if Satyam management wants to make the whole movie-going experience more pleasant, whether it is an Oriya movie or a Tamil one, I’m all for it. If you want the whistle and catcall ambience, then I suggest you go to Chromepet Vetri or Poonamalle Sundar! Take a chill pill, man.
Not specific to this post, but to me, more annoying than Sathyam cinema itself is the amount of coverage being given in Chennai Metroblog to this one theatre complex. It seems we cannot go one week without a mention of it.
Cheers
SLN
With branded Multiplexes like PVR and INOX planning to venture into Chennai market, movie ticket prices will rise drastically. The prices might be about Rs. 160 – 200 in theses theatre. This is not a good sign for Chennai theatre market as these so called multiplexes will have only 100-150 member seating giving you only a home theatre experience. Hope these multiplexes doest give a wrong signal to other singleplexes to change into multiplexes.
Does anybody have photos of Safire, Blue Diamond, Emerald theaters ?
During my childhood waay back in the 70’s , that was one of the most wonderful theaters. Saw so many wonderful movies …they even had an indoor football game in the lobby , the place had a majestic feel ….sigh!
PVR AND INOX REAAAAALY ROCK.THEY ARE THE BEST CINEMAS IN INDIA.THEY MAY BE MORE EXPENSIVE BUT YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.WORLD CLASS AMBIENCE,EXCELLENT ACCOUSTICS,MOST COMFORTABLE SEATING,5 STAR EXPERIENCE AND UPMARKET CLASSY DECENT CROWD.NO WHISTLING AND ALL THAT CHEAP RUBBISH HERE.I M SHOCKED PEOPLE ARE STILL INTO ALL THAT CRAP EVEN IN THESE DAYS AS WE SEE INDIA AND CHENNAI BECOMING A WORLD CLASS GLOBAL CITY.WE TRYING TO MOVE INTO BECOMING A CIVALIZED MODERN DEVELOPED NATION THAT RESPECTS EVERYONES SPACE.SATHYAM SUCK TODAY.ITS JUST AN OLD 1975 THEATRE RENOVATED,REONAVATED ANS STILL KEEPS RENOVATING AND ITS NOT THE COMPLETE EXPERIENCE THAT A PVR OR INOX WOULD COME TO OFFER CAUSE THEY WOULD BE INSIDE HUGE HMALLS AND HENCE WILL BE ADJACENT TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD FOODCOURTS,VARIETY OF RESTAURANTS,RETAIL AND FUNCITYS LIKE GAMES AND OTHER ENTERTAINMENTS.SATHYAM HAS BEEN MISUSING THE MONOPOLY ITS BEEN ENJOYING IN CHENNAI FOR ULTIMATED MULTIPLEX EXPERIENCE FOR TOO LONG AND ITS DAYS ARE GETTING NUMBERED WITH THE ADVENT OF PVR,INOX AND FAME CINEMAS ETC.SANGAM HAS JUST BEEN TRYING TO APE SATHYAM AND TRYING TO SHOW SOME SIGN OF EVOLUTION AND MODERNITY WITH ITS NEW PAINT JOB AND MINOR TWEAKS HERE AND THERE.ITS NOT BEEN BOUGHT OVER BY SATHYAM. SANGAM REAL CHEAP ROOTS CANNOT BE OVERLOOKED.ITS A CHEAP THEATRE INSIDE OUT NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU PAINT IT.ITS PLAYS POOR SELECTION OF MOVIES AND ONLT TAMIL.I WENT RECENTLY AND EVEN THE EXECUTIVE CLASS IS NOT PROPERLY MAINTAINED, LIKE THE CUP HOLDERS HAVE ALREADY RUSTED OUT COMPLETELY AND IN THE CONSESSIONS STAND A MAN SERVED ME A PUFF IN HIS BARE HANDS WITHOUT A PLASTIC GLOVE WHICH IS BECOMING A NORM TODAY EVERYWHERE OR SHOULD BE WITH ALL THE VERIOUS HEALTH RISKS WE ARE FACED WITH.ITS THINGS LIKE THIS WHICH MAKE IT CLEAR TO ONE THAT ITS AT THE END OF THE DAY A CHEAP PLACE WHICH IS TRYING COSMETIC CHANGES TO KEEP UP WITH MODERN MULTIPLEX ERA.CHENNAI NEED MANY GOOD WORLD CLASS MALLS WITH TRUELY WORLD CLASS MULTIPLEXES IN THEM.THE STAND ALONE THEATRES IF THEY HAVE TO SURVIVE HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY MODERNISED AND MADE WORLD CLASS UPTO THE DETAILS.ITS POSSIBLE BUT UNLIKELY EXSPECIALLY WITH THE GREEDY,CHEAP, CLASSLESS,MONEY MINDED THEATRE OWNERS PRESENT IN CHENNAI.IF MAYAJAAL CAN SELL AT RS 150 FOR A TICKET PLUS THE TOLL ONE PAYS AND ITS FULL AND JAM CROWED ON WEEKENDS BUYING AN INOX TICKET FOR THE SAME OR LESS ESPECIALLY WHEN ITS INSIDE CHENNAI AND INSIDE A WORLD CLASS MALL ITS LOOKING LIKE A NO BRAINER WHEN IT FINALLY OPENS FOR THE CHENNAI PUBLIC.PVR SHOULD ALSO OPEN UP HOPEFULLY IN 2007 SOMETIME.