(Image used for representative purpose only)

BENGALURU: Shankar nag Chitramandira , one of the iconic singlescreen theatres on MG Road , is reopening after it was shut down two years ago. It has undergone a facelift in decor and cinema technology and rechristened Swagath Onyx Theatre .

The theatre, owned by BBMP, has been leased out to the Swagath Group. Samsung has provided the digital screen, called Onyx Cinema LED, and the company's sister concern, Harman, provided sound technology. The Onyx Cinema LED, the first in the city, was launched globally by Samsung in 2017 and the first screen was installed in South Korea.

The theatre was named after the late Kannada actor-director Shankar Nag. It had shut down in 2005 and was later reopened by Fame Cinemas. In 2017, Fame decided not to renew its lease. Since then BBMP has been trying to find another exhibitor.

The Onyx Cinema LED screen installed in the refurbished theatre is the largest in the world. This mega screen – 14 metres long – has also been installed in two other locations – China and Malaysia. Samsung has four Onyx screens in India –– two in Delhi and one in Mumbai.

“Samsung is the only brand offering an end-to-end movie experience, from stunning visuals through Onyx Cinema LED screens to phenomenal sound from JBL Professional by Harman. Swagath Onyx Theatre in Bengaluru will revolutionise the cinema-viewing experience in the city" said Puneet Sethi, vice president, consumer electronics enterprise business, Samsung India.

Samsung is literally changing the landscape of the central business district of Bengaluru. Besides the new screen, it opened the largest mobile experience centre in the world in Bengaluru's Opera House last year. Many single-screen theatres in the city have shut down due to lack of business. Earlier this year, Rex Theatre, a landmark on Brigade Road, downed shutters. A mall is expected to come up in its place.

