Sivaji Ganesan`s Shanthi theater in Mount Road has been a landmark structure for more than half a century and old timers fondly remember the innumerous Nadigar Thilagam films that had blockbuster runs there. We had reported a few months back that the thespian`s family have decided to convert the theater into a shopping mall with a multiplex.

Yesterday was the last day Shanthi theater functioned and it has been officially closed from today for remodeling. There are murmurs of dissent from many a Sivaji fan that the structure should remain a symbol of the golden age of the legend but Prabhu has assured that the new multiplex that will come up there will still be known as Shanthi and all the old memorabilia including rare photographs of Sivaji with dignitaries all round the globe will remain there.