This photograph taken on August 30, 2026 shows the interior view of the single-screen Phul Cinema in Patiala. India's single-screen cinemas have been steadily squeezed by multiplexes, streaming, rising property costs and the expense of maintaining ageing buildings and equipment. Researchers estimate that India had around 14,000 single-screen halls in the 1980s. Only around 2,000 remain today. (Photo by Narinder NANU / AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken on September 4, 2026 shows the interior view of the single-screen Basusree Cinema hall in Kolkata. India's single-screen cinemas have been steadily squeezed by multiplexes, streaming, rising property costs and the expense of maintaining ageing buildings and equipment. Researchers estimate that India had around 14,000 single-screen halls in the 1980s. Only around 2,000 remain today. (Photo by Dibyangshu SARKAR / AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken on Septemebr 4, 2026 shows chief operator Veerain Reddy working inside a ticket booking counter at the single-screen Mukunda Theatre in Bengaluru. India's single-screen cinemas have been steadily squeezed by multiplexes, streaming, rising property costs and the expense of maintaining ageing buildings and equipment. Researchers estimate that India had around 14,000 single-screen halls in the 1980s. Only around 2,000 remain today. (Photo by Idrees MOHAMMED / AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken on August 26, 2026 shows the interior view of the single-screen Mukunda Theatre in Bengaluru. India's single-screen cinemas have been steadily squeezed by multiplexes, streaming, rising property costs and the expense of maintaining ageing buildings and equipment. Researchers estimate that India had around 14,000 single-screen halls in the 1980s. Only around 2,000 remain today. (Photo by Idrees MOHAMMED / AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken on August 26, 2026 shows movie-goers watching the early morning show of the newly released Kannada film "Toxic" at the single-screen Mukunda Theatre in Bengaluru. India's single-screen cinemas have been steadily squeezed by multiplexes, streaming, rising property costs and the expense of maintaining ageing buildings and equipment. Researchers estimate that India had around 14,000 single-screen halls in the 1980s. Only around 2,000 remain today. (Photo by Idrees MOHAMMED / AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken on August 30, 2026 shows the interior view of the single-screen Phul Cinema in Patiala. India's single-screen cinemas have been steadily squeezed by multiplexes, streaming, rising property costs and the expense of maintaining ageing buildings and equipment. Researchers estimate that India had around 14,000 single-screen halls in the 1980s. Only around 2,000 remain today. (Photo by Narinder NANU / AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken on September 17, 2026 shows the interior view of the single-screen Pratibha theatre in Lucknow. India's single-screen cinemas have been steadily squeezed by multiplexes, streaming, rising property costs and the expense of maintaining ageing buildings and equipment. Researchers estimate that India had around 14,000 single-screen halls in the 1980s. Only around 2,000 remain today. (Photo by Niharika KULKARNI / AFP via Getty Images)

This photograph taken on August 20, 2026 shows the interior view of the iconic single-screen Liberty Cinema in Mumbai. India's single-screen cinemas have been steadily squeezed by multiplexes, streaming, rising property costs and the expense of maintaining ageing buildings and equipment. Researchers estimate that India had around 14,000 single-screen halls in the 1980s. Only around 2,000 remain today. (Photo by Indranil MUKHERJEE / AFP via Getty Images)