Curtain falls on Mamata Cinema after nearly five decades

One of Narsingdi’s last surviving single-screen cinemas is set to disappear from the district’s cultural landscape, as the owners of Mamata Cinema in Madhabdi have put the property up for sale after years of declining business.

A banner announcing the sale has been hanging at the theatre's entrance since earlier this week, signalling the likely end of a 47-year journey for a venue that once thrived during the golden age of Bangladeshi cinema.

Established in 1979 by Safar Ali Bhuiyan, Mamata Cinema was among more than 20 movie theatres that once operated across Narsingdi. Today, only two cinemas remain in the district: Mamata in Madhabdi and Sohag Cinema in Ghorashal.

The theatre's struggles mirror the broader decline of Bangladesh's single-screen exhibition sector. Despite occasional boosts during major holiday releases, cinema attendance has continued to fall, making it increasingly difficult for many theatres to remain financially viable.

According to Shahadat Hossain, who manages the property on behalf of the owner, the decision to sell was made after years of mounting losses and an inability to attract new operators.

"The sale notice was put up four days ago. If a suitable buyer is found, the entire property, including the cinema hall and its surrounding land, will be sold," he said.

Although the original owner stopped operating the theatre about a decade ago, several tenants subsequently leased and managed the venue. None, however, managed to turn a profit. In many cases, operators reportedly struggled even to cover staff salaries.

The theatre's most recent operator incurred losses during the run of "Rockstar", starring Shakib Khan and directed by Azman Rusho, further diminishing prospects for the venue.

Mamata is not the first cinema hall in Narsingdi to disappear in recent years. In 2025, Runa Cinema in Chalakchar Union of Monohardi Upazila ceased operations after nearly four decades. 

The theatre had survived longer than the area's other cinema, Pipasa, but reportedly struggled to attract audiences after 2022.

Earlier, in 2024, Chhanda Cinema in Raipura's Hasnabad area was sold and converted for other use.

The sale of Mamata Cinema marks another chapter in the gradual decline of Bangladesh's once-vibrant network of single-screen theatres, many of which have been forced to shut down amid changing viewing habits, the rise of digital entertainment and shrinking audience numbers.