On January 16, 2026, AMB Cinemas opened in Bengaluru, featuring South India’s first Dolby Screen. This high-tech screen replaced Kapali Theatre, once among India’s first Cinerama screens. AMB Cinemas is a joint venture between Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu and Asian Cinemas from Hyderabad. The new multiplex has nine screens and is located on K.G. Road, an area now less active for Kannada cinema. At the launch, families were seen at the box office, but experts say it’s too soon to expect the old glory of Gandhinagar back. On social media, reactions are mixed. Some cinephiles welcome the advanced film tech, while local Kannada fans worry about Telugu cinema’s increasing presence in the area. Bharath Narang from Asian Cinemas said, "My father was a good friend of Dr. Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan, and Ambareesh. We want to revive the old memories of this iconic place, and AMB Cinemas is our gift to the people of Karnataka." Telugu films now dominate K.G. Road, with more showtimes than Kannada films. Industry experts say Telugu cinema’s bigger star base and steady blockbuster output give it an edge. Sunil Narang, MD of AMB Cinemas, assured, "Kannada movies will never face unfair treatment at AMB." AMB Cinemas offers an in-house canteen with affordable quality food, including plans to serve Bengaluru’s Donne Biryani. Ticket prices are kept reasonable to provide a "7-star service" experience. The Dolby Screen uses dual Barco laser projectors for top clarity and is the second largest in India, seating 586 guests. The multiplex also features 7.1 Dolby Atmos sound. Hyderabad will soon open its first Dolby Cinema, Allu Cinema, led by superstar Allu Arjun. This shows Hyderabad’s strong cinema business. Bharath Narang commented on cinema passion in Andhra Pradesh, saying it surpasses Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. He also expressed surprise at the closing of Urvashi Theatre in Bengaluru. Film critic Shyam Prasad told The Hindu, "The onus of saving the Kannada film industry lies on the guardians of the industry. For 15 years, no big-star Kannada film has released for Sankranti. What’s stopping modern stars from producing and promoting Kannada films like in the past?" AMB Cinemas plans to open another multiplex near Bengaluru airport, continuing its growth in the region.