Hyderabad, May 15 -- Today, Telugu cinema is not just popular in India, it has reached audiences across the world with blockbuster films like Baahubali and RRR. But the journey of Tollywood started long before the Pan-India era. The roots of Telugu cinema culture can be traced back to Vijayawada, where the first permanent theatre in Andhra Pradesh changed the future of entertainment forever.

First Cinema Theatre in Andhra Pradesh

In 1921, Maruthi Talkies became the first permanent movie theatre in the combined Andhra Pradesh region. It was built by Pothina Srinivasa Rao, who believed cinema needed a fixed place for audiences to enjoy films regularly.

Before this, movies were mostly shown in temporary tents and touring talkies. Maruthi ...