18 Years of Mani Square: How This Kolkata Mall Became Part of Our Lives

 

Photo by Sanchita chatterjee 

If you grew up in Kolkata after 2008, chances are your memories have a Mani Square chapter. First movie date at PVR? Midnight sale at Westside? Dragging parents to Shoppers Stop for Durga Puja shopping? On June 15, 2026, the mall that hosted all these moments turned 18.

Monday’s anniversary wasn’t just about a cake-cutting ceremony with CEO Sanjay Jhunjhunwala and Director Sudarshana Gangulee. It was about a building that quietly became part of Kolkata’s daily life. When Mani Square opened in 2008, malls were still a new concept here. Today, it’s hard to imagine EM Bypass without it.

Ask any Salt Lake or Phoolbagan resident. For them, Mani Square meant not having to travel to South City for brands like Westside or Spencer’s. It meant teenagers finally had a hangout spot with multiplex, food court, and shopping under one roof. For parents, it meant AC comfort during Kolkata’s brutal summers and a safe place for kids.

The mall’s management calls it “young at heart” after 18 years, and that’s accurate. It survived online shopping booms, the pandemic, and newer malls by adapting. The tenant mix changed, but the crowd didn’t. College students still crowd the food court. Families still do their monthly Spencer’s run. Couples still book PVR tickets.

Ms. Sudarshana Gangulee’s anniversary message summed it up: “This milestone reflects the relationships, memories, and experiences we have shared.” She’s right. Malls sell products, but the ones that last sell memories.

As part of the 18th-year celebrations, Mani Square has rolled out special offers and live events through June. But for most Kolkata residents, the real celebration is nostalgic. It’s remembering their first time here 18 years ago, and realizing how much has changed — except the mall itself.

In a city that fiercely guards its culture, Mani Square managed to become part of it. That’s bigger than any anniversary.