The Unforgettable Jaffna Windsor Theatre!

In the seventies and eighties, if there was one theatre in Sri Lanka with the finest design, it would undoubtedly be the Jaffna Windsor Theatre. Even without air-conditioning, it was designed in such a way that there was no need for it. Initially, it was called "New Windsor." This was because the older, smaller Windsor Theatre, once the new one was built, became the LID0 Theatre. Until it officially became the Lido, people referred to this new theatre as "New Windsor." Once Lido began operating, it was simply called "Windsor."

Some of the unique features of this theatre... it was a high-ceilinged, expansive theatre. On both sides of the walls, there were large windows. Before a movie started, a staff member would close them one by one. For evening shows, these closed windows would be opened as darkness began to fall. Watching a movie there was a delightful experience, enjoying the cool breeze and admiring the night sky visible through the windows. The design even included a walkway outside the windows, allowing one to walk along them.  One of my facebook friends, Gowrishankar, who responded to this post, mentioned that the theatre was designed by the world-renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa. He is also the designer of Sri Lanka's current Parliament building. He is known for introducing a style called Tropical Modernism in global architecture, specializing in designing buildings with a unique national identity, integrating the country's natural environment and culture. Now I understand why Windsor was designed so exceptionally. Thanks, Gowrishankar.

Another important feature of this theatre was that the floor sloped downwards from the first class all the way to the gallery. Generally, in theatres, the projector room is located above the balcony. However, in the New Windsor, the projector room was situated between the balcony and the first-class seating.

Among all the theatres in Jaffna, Windsor was the tallest, widest, and most spacious, which gave it a unique distinction.

Only Raja and Rani theatres would display artist Maniyam's tall cut-outs for MGR and Sivaji films. While other theatres also had Maniyam's cut-outs, they were not comparable to those at Raja and Rani.

It was here that I watched movies like Rakasiya Police  Police 115, Kudiyirundha Koyil, Vaa Raja Vaa, Arangetram, Thedi Vandha Mappillai, Rajaraja Cholan, Vilayattu Pillai, Nalla Neram, Pilot Premnath, Thani Piravi, Avalukkenru Oru Manam, Irulum Oliyum, Annamitta Kai, Kulamagal Radhai, Aval, and Utharavindri Ulle Vaa.

The cut-outs shown here are from the movie Nalla Neram.