A legendary theatre on Anna Salai becomes a corporate hub

Shanthi theatre on Anna Salai was opened in January 1961. | Photo Credit: PRABHU M. Today, when we cross Anna Salai, we think of traffic, deadlines, and the rush to work. But for many in Chennai, the same road carries a different set of memories. There was a time when a theatre called Shanti stood here, attracting generations of moviegoers. The theatre became such a landmark that its name spilled beyond its walls and screens, and a bus stop nearby came to be known as Shanti.The theatre was built by G. Umapathy and D. Shanmuga Raja, the erstwhile Raja of Sivaganga, and was opened in January 1961 by then Chief Minister K. Kamaraj. The inaugural show was Srinivasa Kalyanam, while the first film to be screened at the theatre was Thooya Ullam, starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Savitri.Accordi