Businesses That Turned Hyderabad’s Landmarks
Reminiscing about his childhood in Himayatnagar, historian Mohammed Safiullah said he used to reside near Liberty Theatre, which continues to hold strong connections with him. “It has been nearly 30 years since the theatre closed, but the name Liberty continues to remain a landmark. We continue to relate to the name,” he said
Hyderabad: Much before the advent of GPS-guided navigational maps such as Google and Apple, Hyderabadis relied on major landmarks to find their way around the city. Many of these landmarks were theatres, hotels, shops or other major structures. While they made way for new structures decades ago, their names continue to be used in everyday conversations, route navigation and guidance.
One such well-known example in the city is Liberty Circle, which is a major landmark. The road got its name from the old Liberty Cinema, which was once a famous theatre in the area. Although the theatre no longer exists, the name stayed with people and government records, and it is still used for manual navigation.
Reminiscing about his childhood in Himayatnagar, historian Mohammed Safiullah said he used to reside near Liberty Theatre, which continues to hold strong connections with him. “It has been nearly 30 years since the theatre closed, but the name Liberty continues to remain a landmark. We continue to relate to the name,” he said.
Like Liberty Circle, Sangeet X Roads in Secunderabad got its name after the iconic Sangeet 70 MM theatre that once stood as a prominent landmark in the area. For nearly 40 years, the Sangeet theatre enthralled the cinegoers with the latest movies.
While the theatre closed down due to competition from modern multiplexes and a change of preference among the audience, Sangeet continues to live in Secunderabad with a junction named Sangeet X Roads that remains a major landmark for locals and others alike.
“I used to go by cycle to watch movies at Sangeet Theatre in the 1990s. Back then, it had the latest video and audio technology. We continue to use Sangeet Theatre while guiding people to the location. Many youngsters today may not even know Sangeet X Roads got its name from Sangeet Theatre,” said Sandeep Kumar, a private professional.
In Secunderabad, Patny Circle, a commercial shopping hub, got its name after Patny Motors, which was one of the prominent automobile showrooms. Established by M.R. Patny in 1927, Patny Motors gave the new Patny Circle its name, a famous landmark.
Similarly, much before it was called RTC X Roads, the junction used to be referred to as Charminar Cross Roads, which was long associated with Vizar Sultan Tobacco Factory, which made the popular Charminar-brand cigarettes and was located in the area.
The famous commercial area, Abids, got its name from a general store — Abid & Co Store — established in the late 1800s by Albert Abid Evans, a Jewish valet to the sixth Nizam. Its name transformed from Abid & Co Store to Abid’s Shop, Abid Shop and later Abids.
The original store structure was demolished in 1939 to construct the Palace Takies theatre. The theatre was demolished in the 1980s.
In the Old City, people still refer to the Jai Hind Hotel, which closed three decades ago, as a major landmark in Saidabad. “We still refer to the Saidabad bus stop as Jai Hind bus stop. Although the hotel is closed, the name remains with people,” said Padma Reddy, a Saidabad local.
Further, in the Old City, Thovvala Bavi (well) near the Uppuguda railway station gate continues to remain as a familiar reference point, and so is the Sharada Theatre Lane near Saroornagar Lake.
