Safire theatre in Chennai: Once a cinema landmark, now reduced to nothing

In 1964, the Safire Theatre Complex stood proudly on Mount Road, a cinema landmark that couldn't be ignored. It was the first multiplex cinema complex in India, owned by a diamond merchant family. The complex featured three theatres: Safire, Blue Diamond, and Emerald. The Safire theatre had a capacity of around 1,000 people, while the Emerald screened Hindi and Tamil films.

The Blue Diamond screen was notable for introducing the concept of continuous screenings to Indian cinema. For just ₹2.50, patrons could enjoy a day of entertainment, with the Blue Diamond mostly screening old films and second runs. The Safire theatre was famous for showcasing iconic English films, such as My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, and The Poseidon Adventure.

Ramesh, a 65-year-old resident of Chennai, recalled watching The Poseidon Adventure in Safire with a friend. The experience was so thrilling that it made him terrified, only for him and his friend to be caught in a pouring rain afterwards. The Safire theatre dominated Chennai's cinema scene for over two decades until the 1980s, when cable TV began to draw audiences away.

By the time the Veecumsee family closed the complex in the 1980s, cinema attendance had dwindled significantly. The Veecumsees did not demolish the complex in 1994 when they sold it to the AIADMK; it remained idle and in disrepair for nearly a decade. The Safire Theatre Complex was demolished in 2003, leaving behind a vacant plot of land on the bustling Anna Salai.