Locations

In the early 1930s, Madan Theatres Ltd spoke proudly of an exhibiting circuit of “over 100 theatres”. This was a mix of owned establishments, leases and “associations”. The exact number of outlets under the company’s control at its peak is not known with complete certainty but estimates have ranged from around 100, to 150 and over, depending on how the figure is calculated.

Less well known, but equally important to the success of this venture, was the many J F Madan retail outlets dotted across northern India.

It was not to last. The Madan story is one of the great rise and fall stories in both Indian business history and wider cinema history. Having seemed completely dominant in the late 1920s and early 1930s, the firm collapsed with astonishing speed.

Many of the sites listed below are iconic theatrical venues of considerably cultural significance. Despite this, surprisingly little information exists regarding the Madan’s influence at these locations, or their histories in general.

The sites below are laid out as they were listed in company documents. As such, colonial place names are retained to aid research and are listed alphabetically below. 

ALLAHABAD (PRAYAGRAJ, UTTER PRADESH)

Coral Picture House (previously Coral Theatre)
Location: Unknown.
Status: Unknown.
History: The artist and writer Benjamin David Montrose is understood to have painted the screen stages and scenes for this theatre.

Palace Theatre (latterly Palace Cinema)
Location: 163/37, M G Marg, Near Hotel Milan Palace, Civil Lines, North, Allahabad – 0532-2561235
Status: Partially operational as cinema as of 2025.
History: Leased to Madan Theatres Ltd in the 1920s. The freehold is believed to have been held by a major local landowner, the Ghandhi family. Part of Trent Ltd, a Tata division, in the early 2010s. As of 2014 part of this building had been developed into a Westside store.

Pearl Picture Palace
Location: Hewett Rd.
Status: Closed.
History: Bapu Gopi Nath noted as owner and developer in 1916. Single screen cinema, later a Moti Mahal development.

AMRITSAR

Imperial Cinema
Amrit Cinema

ASANSOLE

Indian Railway European Institute (later European Institute)
Status: 
History: This club appears on a list of Madan Theatres Ltd sites. It is likely that the company was running an in-house cinema, rather than owning or leasing the whole site. So an “in association” location, in the company’s jargon.

East Indian Railway Institute 
History: This club appears on lists of Madan Theatres Ltd sites as “in association”. This likely means the company was running a small cinema at the venue, probably for the screening of training films as well as newsreel and entertainment.

BANGALORE

Empire Theatre
B.R.W.

BANKIPORE

Elphinstone Bioscope

HASSEIN

Bandoola Cinema
Excelsior Theatre

BENARES

Visheswar Theatre

BOMBAY (MUMBAI)

Crown Cinema

Excelsior Theatre (formerly Gaiety Theatre)
Location:
Status: Redeveloped several times. This site remains a cinema, in a new building.
History: Built as the Gaiety in 1887, later completely redeveloped by Excelsior Theatres Co. Ltd in 1909 and renamed Excelsior. Site of 9th February 1917 Gandhi speech in opposition to indentured labour. Entirely new cinema built on this site in 1975, as New Excelsior, with previous Italianate building demolished in 1973.

Empire Theatre
Location:
Status: Demolished
History: This was replaced by New Empire.

Empress Theatre
Status: Demolished.

Edward Theatre
Location: 514 Kalbadevi Road, Mumbai 400002 
Status: Closed.
History: Listed as a branch of Madan Theatres in 1930, this truly iconic venue is understood to have been a leasehold, which was taken over by M. B. Bilimoria & B. D. Bharucha by 1934. It then became known as “Edward Talkies”.

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Royal Opera House
Location:
Status: Open
History: India’s only surviving opera house. A conception of Maurice Bandmann and Jehangir Framji Karaka, this theatre had its foundation stone laid in 1909. The Madan Theatres lease appears to start in 1929 and end in 1932, reflecting both the company’s huge expansion of leases across India, followed by a rapid shrinkage.

Globe Cinema
Wellington Cinema
West End Cinema

J F Madan (wholesale depot for Parke Davis & Co)
Location: York Building, 70 Hornby Road, Fort Bombay

BURDEAN

Burdean Cinema

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CALCUTTA (KOLKATA)

Head Office (for Madan Theatres Ltd and J F Madan Co)
Location: 5 Dharmatala Street (now Lenin Sarani)
Status: Closed. Building still stands.

Madan Studio/Indrapuri Studio
Location: 4, NSC Bose Road, Kolkata
Status: This site remains an active film studio as of 2025
History: Madan developed this site as a film studio in 1917 and it has remained in use as a film studio ever since. A long list of historically significant films were shot at this location, both by Madan and by subsequent owners. It was here that the company shot the first Bengali film, first film made in Kolkata and the first Bengali talkie. It left the family firm in the 1930s with Satya Pathe appearing to be the last Madan film produced here, in 1935. 

The Bengal Film Archive and The Times of India provide good accounts of the history of this location, including the involvement of Satyajit Ray’ and Richard Attenborough amongst others.

Cornwallis Theatre (later Sree Cinema)
Location: 138 Cornwallis Street
Status: Closed, now a Citi Mart (2021).
History: The first permanent cinema in Northern Calcutta. The first Bengali feature film was released here in 1919. Bought by P. Ganguly of Kali Films in 1936. From this point it was known as Sree.

The Sree Market has operated here since the closure of the theatre.

Imperial Theatre (later Moonlight Cinema)
Location: 
Status: Still operating as a cinema, as 2025. 
History: Changed name to Moonlight in 1967.

The Electric Theatre (see also Albion and Regal Theatre)
Location: 4 S.N. Banerjee Street, Calcutta (formerly 4, Corporation Street)
Status: A KFC outlet as of 2023. It retains the “Regal Bar”.
History: Renamed Albion under Madan in 1920s and Regal in 1931. It was named Albion at the time it was leased from Pradumna Kumar Mullick Zamindar to Madan Theatres Ltd on 15th Jul 1927.

Crown Cinema Hall (later Uttara Cinema)
Location: 138 Bidhan Sarani, Shyambazar, Kolkata, 700004 (formerly 138/1 Cornwallis Street)
Status: Demolished.
History: Started working life around 1925 and known for being the venue for the premiere of Jamai Shashthi the first short Bengali “talkie” (sound) film, in April 1931.

Many Madan Theatres films were released here. The only film produced by Provincial Film Producers was also released here as was a Madan adaptation of Tagore’s Bisarjan, and one of the few surviving feature length silent era films. It was renamed Uttara in 1935 and in 1936, it was bought by P. Ganguly of Kali Films.

The building was bought by John Mantosh/Humayun Properties Ltd in 2004, by which point it was being used as a market, like nearby Sree.

Corinthian Theatre
Location: 5 Dharmatala Street (now Lenin Sarani)
Status: Closed, demolished
History: A hugely important site in Parsi theatre and the location for some of the earliest sound recordings made in India (1902). Purchased by J F Madan in the 1890s. Renamed Opera Cinema in 1971. “For over several decades the most important theatre in Calcutta”, according to Homai N Modi.

Elphinstone Picture Palace (later Minerva Cinema and latterly Chaplin Cinema)
Location: 5/1 Chowringhee Place, Kolkata
Status: Demolished in 2013
History: India’s first purpose-built cinema hall, built in 1907. In 1917, Moving Picture World described the cinema as “one of the best moving picture houses in the Orient”. At that point, the Elphinstone had seating capacity for 1,700 and priced tickets between 10 cents and $1.50. In 1929, Madan Theatres made it the first Asian cinema to be equipped with permanent sound facilities. Renamed RKO Elphinstone in 1934 following sale. Warner Brothers ownership from 1939 under the name “Stand”. Originally designed in the popular classical style, it was re-designed as an art deco building, as happened with the Elite. It was subsequently sold off and renamed “Minerva” and then “Chaplin Cinema” before being demolished by Kolkata Municipal Council in 2013. Area retains “Chaplin Square” name.

Madan Theatre and Palace of Varieties (later Elite Cinema)
Location: 136 S.N. Banerjee Road, Kolkata
Status: Demolished in 2024
History: This building took on several guises during its 100+ year lifespan. It was best known by its final name of “Elite”. By this time it was a well established and much loved single screen cinema, redeveloped in the iconic art-deco style.

Originally, this site is understood to have been built for ballroom dancing. The Bengali Film Archive tells us of “truckloads of ice” being taken to this site to form the floor for the dances. The archive also mentions 

Gaganendranath Tagore painted this building in his “Madan Theatre by Night” work, now held at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi. We are working on the assumption that this is the same building, due its strong likeness, but there is a chance that Tagore had another one (or a non-specific site) in mind.

It is also the focus of one of the clearest photographs of a Madan-era theatre building. The original of this image is held by the Durham County Archive in the UK. The image seen online is public domain due to age and was scanned by Ashley Coates in 2022 at the request of Dishoom in London. The photographer is unknown.

This image predates extensive 1930s/40s remodelling in the art deco style that the Elite Cinema was well known for. First constructed some time before 1915, the building was later taken over by 20th Century (roughly 1955) and remained open until 2008 when it was closed due to low attendance.

The massive film poster on the front of the building is advertising a picture starring the Hollywood actors Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell. Above them, a huge sign tells passers by that Madan Theatre is “the home of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures” (MGM). The company may well have had an exclusive arrangement with MGM in that part of the country.

Further images show that the site underwent several major renovations as well as re-naming. It was known as Prabhat by 1938 and Elite by 1948. Conversion to an art-deco style was initially undertaken by the British architect M.A. Riddley Abbott, and completed John Berchmans Fernandes. You can see images of the theatre at the time of its 2nd August 1948 re-opening here.

In 1955, the cinema was taken over by 20th Century Fox.

On 1st June 2018, the cinema finally closed for good. This was reported by The Times of India and Business Standard, amongst others. This film by ABP Ananda, also covering the closure, gives a good insight into the historical aspects of the cinema at the time of closure. 

Despite widespread concerns from film enthusiasts, historians and local residents, in February 2024, the building was finally demolished.

Picture House
Central Theatre

Ripon Theatre (later Jawahar)
Location: 22 Keshab Sen Street, Kolkata – 700009
Status: Closed down.
History: Listed as a branch in 1930.

Howrah Cinema

Empress Theatre
History: Possibly the longest owned freehold in the Madan Theatres roster with company reports suggesting ownership continued until at least 1968.

Kidderpore Cinema Palace
Alfred Theatre
New Empire Theatre
Picture House

J F Madan (wine and general merchant)
Location(s): 35, Park Street – 52 Garden Reach Road, Kidderpore – 3, Store Road, Ballygunge – 5 Dharmatala Street (now Lenin Sarani).

CAWNPUR

Elphinstone Picture Palace
Empress Theatre

CHANDERNAGORE

Cinema de Paris

COLOMBO (SRI LANKA)

Elphinstone Picture Palace / Elphinstone Theatre
Location: Maradana, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 01000
Status: Still operational as of 2025
History: Built in 1925-1926, with Mayor of Colombo, Hubert Ernest Newnham CMG laying the foundation stone in this year. This is an original Madan Theatres build, which has survived and retains its original name. Constructed in a neo-classical style at the height of the company’s expansion, this building was built as a cinema and showed silent and talkie films over the years.

In advance of the building’s centenary, ThePrint compiled this article, which mentioned a few films shown at Elphinstone in 1931: On January 11, 1931, Charlie Chaplin’s silent movie, “A Night Out” (1915), was shown at the Elphinstone Theatre in Colombo. The same year, local audiences were treated to “One Wonderful Night” (1922) by Stuart Paton, and James Flood’s “The Man without a Conscience” (1925), it says.

On 9th October, 1988, the theatre was re-opened by as the Lionel Edirisinghe Centre for Performing Arts of the Tower Hall Theatre Foundation. following renovation in a ceremony attended by the Sri Lankan President J R Jayewardene and then Prime Minister R Premadasa. As of 2025, it is known as “Elphinstone Theatre” and operated by the Tower Hall Theatre Foundation. You can book to see shows here.

Empire Theatre (formerly Public Hall)
Location: 51, Braybooke Place, Colombo
Status: Demolished by Ceylon Theatres
History: The first talkie cinema in Sri Lanka. Built in 1899, and leased by Warwick Major, in 1924 the property was bought by Madan Theatres Ltd. On 13th July 1929, it was converted to sound renamed the Empire Theatre. Ceylon Theatres acquired the property in 1939. Thank you to Aruna Gunarathna for providing research for this entry.

Clifford Pavilion (later Regal)
Location: Nuwara Eliya
Status: Active, see showtimes here.
History: Construction ordered by J F Madan, in early 1900s. Later renamed Regal and sold to Ceylon Theatres who continue to own and operate a redeveloped site as a cinema.

Palace Hall
Majestic Talkies

CAWNPORE
Elphinstone Picture Palace
Empress Theatre

DACCA
Dacca Bioscope Company
Dacca Picture Palace

DARJEELING
Elphinstone Picture Palace
Rink Cinema
Capitol

J F Madan (wine and general merchant)
Location(s): Piroj Villa, Post Office Road. Chowrasta, The Stores, Central Hotel.

DELHI
Elphinstone Picture Palace

HYDERABAD (DN)
Royal Cinema

HYDERABAD (Sind)
Royal Opera House

JAMSHEDPORE
The Milanee
Tisco Institute

JUBBULPORE
Empire Theatre

KANDY
Empire Theatre

KARACHI
Palace Theatre
Star Cinema

KIRKEE
Excelsior Theatre
Royal Cinema

LAHORE
Elphinstone Theatre
Empire Palladium
Excelsior Theatre

LUCKNOW
Elphinstone Picture Palace
Golagunj Cinema

Prince of Wales Theatre
Status: Closed.
History: Theatre established around the time of a 1876 Prince of Wales visit. Later converted to Hazratganj’s first cinema hall and renamed Prince. Initially run by Shah Brothers of Nainital, by 1934 it was in the hands of the Javeri Brothers of Bombay. Original building said to be within present shopping complex. Present day Sahu cinema was built on the Prince’s parking lot in front of the building, itself following a succession of cinema house names (Plaza, Regal, Filmistan).

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J F Madan (wine and general merchant)
Location: The Exchange

MADRAS
Elphinstone Picture Place
New Elphinstone Picture Palace
Gaiety Theatre
Crown Theatre
Wellington Cinema

MANDALAY
Elphinstone Picture Palace

MAYMYO
Elphinstone Bioscope

MEERUT
Premier Cinema

MHOW
Vaudette Electric Cinema

MOULMEIN
Excelsior Theatre

MUSSOORIE
Royal Opera House

MYSORE
Royal Opera House

NAOPORE
Elphinstone Bioscope

NAINTAL
Elphinstone Bioscope (Assembly Rooms)

PESHAWAR CITY
Imperial Bioscope

PESHAWAR CANTT
Cinema de Paris
Emperor Cinema

POONA
West End Cinema
Empire Cinema
Apollo Cinema
Globe Cinema

QUETTA
Empire Theatre

RANGOON
Excelsior Theatre (later Waziya Cinema)
Location: 327/329 Bogyoke Road
Status: Undergoing restoration as of 2025.
History: An imposing building in central Yangon, this is Yangon’s oldest cinema and the last survivor of “cinema row”. Completed in 1920 in beaux-arts style, the architect is unknown and it is not clear if the original build was by the firm or another company. It was nationalised and renamed the Waziya in 1964. It was briefly used as a theatre before returning to use as a cinema.

New Elphinstone Picture Palace
Royal Theatre
Dagon Cinema
The Plaza Cinema
Star Cinema
Tivoli Theatre

RAWALPINDI
Elphinstone Picture Palace

SALEM
Royal Cinema

SERAMPORE
Serampore Picture House

SHILLONG
Kelvin Cinema

SIMLA (SHIMLA)
Elphinstone Palace Theatre

Prince of Wales Theatre (later Regal)
Status: Closed.
History: This is listed as a branch theatre in 1930. It is likely that Madan was commissioned to run the cinema within the theatre for a period. The Prince of Wales Building was an administrative HQ for the Government of India in this period. The re-naming to “Regal” took place in 1955 and a fire took out the cinema in 1983. The building has been mixed commercial use and a school since then.

SRINAGAR
Puri’s Rink Cinema

SURAT
Empress Cinema

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