Movie and Theaters in Bangalore

Movie Theaters

You can find out movie schedules and book tickets online at www.bookmyshow.com. Note that theaters are a big crowd puller over the weekends and tickets can be difficult to obtain. Ticket pricing differs for each movie and is higher over the weekends. All major credit and debit cards are accepted.

Bollywood movies are some times a treat to watch as most are musicals and there is a lot of singing and dancing. Via-Her recommends that you view Bollywood and other Indian movies on television or DVD in the comfort of your hotel room or at home rather than the movie theaters.

There is a high level of security at these Bangalore theaters, so be prepared to go through a metal detector and have your bag and person searched by a female security guard.

The best movie theaters in Bangalore are:

PVR

Location: 3rd Floor, Forum Shopping Mall, Hosur Rd, Koramangala
Tel: +91 80 2206 7511
Online booking: www.pvrcinemas.com or www.bookmyshow.com

This multiplex is the result of an agreement between Priya Exhibitors of India and Village Roadshow Ltd of the U.S. It has three classes of theaters: Classic, Europa, and Gold Class. Tickets at Classic and Europa range between Indian Rupees 200 and INR 300. The theaters have a snack and beverage section, where you can buy snacks like popcorn, colas, chocolates, hotdogs or low-cal snacks. Tickets at Europa are more expensive than at Classic and ushers here will also take down your food/beverage order and bring it to your seat during the movie. Tickets at Gold Class, which has only 40 seats, are priced upwards of Indian Rupees 600 and include 180-degree reclining leather-upholstered seats, a personalized menu with a Maitre D’, and a complimentary welcome drink in the lounge area, which also has books and paintings by renowned Indian artists. Gold Class also has concierge services and a mocktail bar. Note that PVR does not allow food from outside, including chewing gum, to be brought into its premises. There is a locker area where such articles are to be left, from where you can collect them after the movie is over.

INOX

Location: 4th Floor, Garuda Mall, Magrath Road, (near MG Road), Bangalore
Tel: +91 80 4112 8888
Online booking: www.inoxmovies.com/inox/wcms/en/home/our-cinema/banglore.html

Inox is a modern movie theater, comparable to new movie theaters in the US or Europe with air-conditioning, comfortable reclining seats and surround sound. There is a well-stocked snack and beverage counter within the theater premises. Tickets range from Indian Rupees 150 to INR 300.

Theaters for plays and music concerts

Rangashankara

Location: 36/2 8th Cross II Phase J P Nagar, Bangalore
Tel: +91-80-26592777, +91-80-26493982
Performance schedule: www.rangashankara.org/home/rangatest/index.php

Set up by a well-known Indian actress Arundathi Nag, Rangashankara hosts a number of theatrical performances by both Indian and foreign groups. The stage has hosted plays and theatrical adaptations of stories by Oscar Wilde, Chekov, Brecht, the Bronte sisters, Agatha Christie and more. Plays are staged in a number of languages, including English and Indian languages. This is a venture to popularize theater and tickets are usually priced as little as Indian Rupees 75 to INR 100. The auditorium is air-conditioned, the stage is small, and you can choose to sit anywhere as there are no designated seat numbers. There is a small snack bar with a limited menu.

Via Her's insider tips for women business travelers:
•    Book a taxi from your hotel to take you here and back as it is difficult to locate
•    Switch your cell phone to silent mode as the theater has a strict rule against cell phones during play performances

Chowdiah Memorial Hall

Location: 16th Cross, GD Park Extension, 2nd Main Road, Malleshwaram, Bangalore
Tel: +91 80-23445810, +91 80-23443956, +91 80 2344 5610
Chowdiah Memorial Hall is unique in design as the modern, air-conditioned building is shaped like a violin. It has a large stage and hosts dramas, dance, operas, ballets, music concerts, screening of newsreels, film festivals and children's films etc. It has hosted plays, musicals and theatrical adaptations of works by Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and more as well as Indian language plays. It also hosts Carnatic (South Indian classical) music and other Indian classical dance and music performances. Information about plays, dance performances or classical music concerts held here is usually available in the local English newspapers (The Times of India, Deccan Herald, Deccan Chronicle, The Hindu, Indian Express) along with the information about where tickets are available. There is a small snack bar with a limited menu. The cost of tickets differ for each performance.

Via Her's insider tips for women business travelers:
•    Book a taxi from your hotel to take you here and back as it is difficult to locate
•    Start early as traffic jams in the area could delay your arrival at the venue
•    Book your tickets in advance as tickets may be sold out and not always available at the venue

Palace Grounds

Location: Jayamahal Road, Bangalore

Music concerts by both Indian and well-known international artists are usually held in the large ground surrounding the Bangalore palace. Western artists including Roger Waters, Bryan Adams, Aerosmith, Elton John, Sting and others have performed here. Indian rock and fusion groups like Parikrama and Indian Ocean also perform here. Seating is not always available and depends on the concert organizers. Classical music concerts usually have seating arrangements. Information about upcoming concerts at the venue along with the information about where tickets are available is publicized in the local English newspapers (The Times of India, Deccan Herald, Deccan Chronicle, The Hindu, Indian Express). The cost of tickets differs for each performance.

Via Her's insider tips for women business travelers:
•    Never attend concerts here alone
•    Book a taxi from your hotel to take you here and back
•    Stand away from the general crowd during a standing concert as it can become boisterous during the performance
•    Book your tickets in advance as tickets may be sold out and not always available at the venue

Nrityagram Dance Village

If you wish to see classical Indian dance performances, visit Nrityagram Dance Village, which showcases a variety of traditional Indian dances such as Odissi, Mohiniattam, Kathak, Bharatnatyam and more. If you happen to visit Bangalore in the spring (February/March), you could visit Nrityagram to witness their dance festival “Vasantha Habba”, which has been termed “the Woodstock of Indian dance”.