Baripada: The oldest cinema of Mayurbhanj, KMBM, located in the district headquarters town, has been closed for an indefinite period after the evening show on Thursday.

"Earlier, a school named Khetra Mohan Bidya Mandir used to function from the building. The school used to run in the morning, while film shows were held from the afternoon. Subsequently, the school shifted and the talkies with the abbreviated name KMBM came into existence," said local resident Bibhudtta Das. "People were emotionally attached to the theatre and they were hurt with its closure," he said.

The closure of the theatre has caused disappointment among local residents and members of film fraternity.

The theatre located in the heart of the town had been established in 1937.

The last film screened at the theatre was Happy Lucky.

Theatre manager Kuna Mohanty said the KMBM had lost its charm with time. As a result, the number of audience declined drastically. It has become pretty difficult on part of the owner to run the shows.

"Earlier, the booking for tickets for all the three shows from afternoon to night use to be full. But nowadays there were hardly any audience. It became very difficult to maintain it and bear the recurring expenses," Mohanty said.

"The owner has a plan to renovate the building and may start the theatre again," he said.