Metro INOX Cinemas, often referred to simply as Metro Cinema, is a cinema hall located in the Dhobi Talao area of South Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Originally opened as the Metro Cinema by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), the theatre is one of the city's notable Art Deco landmarks and continues to operate as a multiplex under the INOX brand.
| Name | Metro INOX Cinemas |
|---|---|
| Former name | Metro Cinema |
| Type | Cinema / Multiplex |
| Location | Dhobi Talao, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Original operator | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) |
| Current operator | INOX Leisure |
The Metro Cinema was established by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as the studio's flagship exhibition venue in Bombay (now Mumbai) and opened in the late 1930s. Designed in the Art Deco idiom that defined much of South Bombay's cinema and commercial architecture of the period, it became one of the city's premier single-screen theatres for premieres of Hollywood films during the studio era.
The cinema stands at a prominent junction near Dhobi Talao, close to Marine Lines and the Azad Maidan area, and has been a recognisable landmark on the Mumbai cinema circuit for decades. It is part of the broader Art Deco precinct of South Mumbai, an architectural ensemble that has received international recognition.
After several decades of operation as a single-screen theatre, the Metro was redeveloped into a multi-screen format. INOX Leisure, one of India's leading multiplex chains, took over operations and the venue was rebranded as Metro INOX Cinemas. The redevelopment retained key Art Deco features of the original facade while modernising the auditoria, projection and audio systems.
Metro INOX Cinemas is significant for several reasons: