Why Hyderabad’s Sandhya 70mm theater is iconic, attracted Allu Arjun for Pushpa 2
Telugu star Allu Arjun was arrested on Friday in connection with the stampede that broke out at Sandhya 70 mm theater in Hyderabad on December 4. When stars arrived for the premiere of Pushpa 2.0, a woman died in a stampede. This is what makes Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theater special, which has a legacy of attracting huge crowds and celebrities.
The entertainment world was shocked by the death of a film star on Friday. Allu Arjun has been arrested by Hyderabad Police In connection with the stampede at Sandhya 70mm theater in Hyderabad during the premiere of his film ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ on December 4. A woman was killed in the stampede after Allu Arjun, his co-star Rashmika Mandanna and other crew members. Reached the famous Hyderabad cinema hall. Sandhya theaters have long been known for the excitement of fans eager to secure their seats and catch a glimpse of their favorite film stars who often flock to the iconic movie hall in Hyderabad’s commercial RTC X Road.
39-year-old woman dies in stampede at Sandhya theater
Due to the sudden influx of enthusiastic fans, alleged negligence in crowd management and lack of prior information to the police about Allu Arjun’s arrival, As a result a stampede broke out in which one person lost his life.
However, Sandhya theater management has clarified that it had informed the police about the premiere of Pushpa 2 on December 2 and the arrival of the film’s cast at the movie hall.
An application sent and stamped to the Hyderabad Police surfaced on Friday, revealing that Sandhya Theater had requested police arrangements for the event to be held on December 4. The application is due December 2nd.
The 39-year-old woman, Revathi, died of suffocation, while her son Mr. Tej was admitted to the hospital in a critical condition.
Star-studded premiere at Sandhya Theater
Evening theater has long been a favorite venue for film premieres, especially for big-budget films starring popular stars. The theatre’s reputation for hosting large events often draws huge crowds, which can sometimes get out of control.
Abdul Bashir, India Today’s principal correspondent from Hyderabad, says, “This is not the first event that has taken place in an evening theatre. In Tollywood, whenever a big film is released or screened, it is a tradition to watch it in an evening theatre.”
The theater has been a famous meeting place for actors and their fans, especially during the first day screening of a film.
Bashir said, “This is a place where actors and stars arrive to welcome their fans for the first screening.”
In January, when Telugu star Mahesh Babu reached Sandhya 70MM theater to watch a movie, visuals showed several fans trying to jump over the barriers where the actor was sitting.
A similar scene of fans crowding outside the Sandhya theater was seen during the recent premieres of Rajinikanth-starrer Vettaiyan and Prabhas-starrer Salaar Part 1.
The legacy of Hyderabad’s evening theater
Despite the recent tragedy, Sandhya Theater holds an important place in the cinematic history of Hyderabad. Located at a prime location on RTC X Road, the single-screen Sandhya 70mm has been a major hub for film lovers for decades.
Established in 1980, the Hindi film Shalimar was the first film to be screened at this theatre, followed by Sholay as the second film, according to a report by Telugu film-centric news and review website Idlebrain (.com).
The evening theater equipped with a high-end Dolby Digital Surround X sound system also features a Xenon Lab projection.
According to idlebrain(.com), the Sandhya 70mm A/C theatre, which once held around 1,500 moviegoers, was later reduced to 1,323 to increase comfort.
The evening theater also introduced luxurious double seats after the renovation, reports idlebrain(.com).
Additionally, next door is Sandhya’s 35mm theatre, which is equally popular.
According to the seat map of BookMyShow, the single-screen theater has third class, first class, lower balcony, upper balcony and Box A and Box B seating options for the Pushpa2 show on Friday, with tickets for third class priced at Rs 70. There are Rs and box seats. Each is priced at Rs 200. Competitive pricing and the experience of watching a movie with 1,300 people could be one of the factors that attract crowds to the prestigious theatre.
The Pushpa 2 tragedy at Sandhya Theater has cast a shadow over its legacy, serving as a sobering reminder of the need for stringent security measures during high-profile events.
