The landmark site in Secunderabad where iconic Sangeet Theatre, once a hub of English cinema in Hyderabad, stood tall now houses a 300-bed multispecialty hospital under the banner of Medicover Hospitals. One of Hyderabad’s old theatre, which enthralled audiences for nearly four decades from 1969 to 2008, still serves as a landmark as a junction nearby is known as Sangeet Cross Roads. Its era came to an end, and another began.
Sangeet theatre which became an important landmark in Secunderabad
| Photo Credit:
SATISH H
For generations of cinephiles, Sangeet was more than just a cinema hall. It was a cultural touchstone that brought Hollywood movies to the city long before multiplexes and malls defined its skyline. The theatre was where English blockbusters such as Jaws, Home Alone, Titanic and Jurassic Park played to packed houses, and where Bollywood’s Hum Aapke Hain Kaun famously ran in a morning slot for an entire year.
Sanjay Shukla, now in his 50s, recalls visiting Sangeet in the early 1990s as an Intermediate student. “I watched Indiana Jones and many other films there. It was not just about the movies, it was the whole experience. The crowd at Sangeet appreciated English cinema and reacted at just the right moments. Back then, speaking good English was rare, and the theatre drew Anglo-Indians, English-medium educated people, and even those preparing for TOEFL,” he said.
The closure of Sangeet in 2008 left a void for many. “At the time, there were no malls or smartphones. For entertainment, we had Irani cafes and theatres. Sangeet was where friendships began. I met many friends there, and we are still in touch,” Mr. Shukla added.
Curtains fall on most single-screen theatres in city
Today, the site that once echoed with applause and cinematic thrills, houses a medical facility featuring 150 intensive care unit (ICU) beds, more than 50 consultation rooms, and eight operation theatres. The hospital houses advanced diagnostic infrastructure, including a catheterisation lab, MRI and CT scan facilities, and offers 24×7 emergency services.
A team of over 40 specialist doctors will provide treatment across more than 30 medical disciplines, ranging from cardiology, oncology, neurology, orthopaedics and hepatology to bariatric surgery, robotic surgery, paediatrics, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and vascular surgery. The facility also includes services in dermatology, ENT, gastroenterology, rheumatology, pulmonology, physiotherapy, and nutrition and dietetics, among others.
