Kapali comes alive with AMB Cinemas: Revival or setback for Kannada cinema?

On January 16, 2026, AMB Cinemas opened in Bengaluru with South India’s first Dolby Screen. The high-tech screen had replaced another technological wonder for its time, the Kapali Theatre, one of India’s first Cinerama screens (a process of using three synchronised projectors to cast images on a wide screen).

The Hyderabad-based AMB Cinemas, a joint venture between Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu and Asian Cinemas, faces the uphill task of thriving in what has turned out to be a desolate locality for movie theatres. Scenes of family members walking to the Box Office at the entrance of the tall structure were an encouraging sign, but we are still far away from witnessing the glory days of Gandhinagar again.

On social media, the reactions to the new nine-screen multiplex have been divided. Hardcore cinephiles are eager to explore innovative film-viewing options, while nostalgic locals feel that the entrance of a Telugu-based film entity at a venue once considered the fortress of Kannada cinema is a setback for Sandalwood.

After its launch in 1968, Kapali screened several Dr. Rajkumar blockbusters, a legacy carried forward by his son, Shivarajkumar (Om, Jogi).

Bharath Narang, one of the prominent leaders at Asian Cinemas, isn’t ignorant about the rich history of Kapali. “My father was a good friend of Dr. Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan, and Ambareesh. We want to revive the old memories of this iconic place, and AMB Cinemas is our gift to the people of Karnataka,” he told reporters in an interaction.

The K.G. Road, where AMB is housed, is no longer the strong homeground of Kannada cinema. Telugu films tend to acquire several shows across single screens in the area. Industry experts point to the “demand and supply” model, acknowledging the Telugu film industry’s ability to produce consistent big films and its advantage of more superstars compared to Sandalwood.

“Kannada movies will never face unfair treatment at AMB,” said Sunil Narang, managing director, AMB Cinemas. “One of our main attractions is the in-house canteen that provides quality food at affordable rates. Sathyam Cinemas in Chennai led the way forward with a diverse food experience, with their fluffy vadas being the highlight. At AMB Hyderabad, the biryani is very popular. We plan to introduce Bengaluru’s Donne Biryani here. With reasonable ticket prices, we want to offer 7-star service to the people”.

The company plans to launch another multiplex in North Bengaluru, near the airport. The Dolby Screen (dual Barco laser projectors with a special screen designed for supreme clarity), the second largest in India with 586 seats after Pune’s screen at Citypride Multiplex, is their marquee attraction. The multiplex has screens with 7.1 Dolby Atmos.

After Bengaluru, Hyderabad is gearing up for the launch of its first Dolby Cinema with the launch of Allu Cinema (superstar Allu Arjun’s venture) at Kokapet. The developments prove the robust cinema business of Hyderabad.

“In Andhra, people across the state invest in movies. The passion for cinema is more in Andhra Pradesh than in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. We have more stars, and they are key to the survival of theatres. I was shocked to know that Urvashi is shutting down in Bengaluru. It’s a great screen,” said Mr. Narang.

AMB Cinemas will operate with what’s best for its business, but the onus of saving the Kannada film industry lies on the guardians of the industry, film critic and author Shyam Prasad told The Hindu.

“In the last 15 years, there has not been a big-star Kannada film for Sankranti. So, what options do theatres have? At one point, the Rajkumar family ventured into production and distribsution with great success. We need the modern-day stars to take ownership of the industry and venture into the film business. The youngsters, such as the Shettys (Raj, Rishab, and Rakshit) and Dhananjaya, are producing movies. What’s stopping the superstars?,” he asked.