The end of an era
Why is that each time I go to Mumbai they close down my favourite theatres in Delhi?
In December, they closed down Chanakya which was for most Delhiites nothing short of an institution and no comparison to those drawing-room sized overpriced garish monstrosities called multiplexes.
This time, as I discovered the other day in Nehru Place, they have closed down Paras. My Paras. A theatre where if at 3.20 I decided I wanted to watch a movie, I could actually leave, catch an auto, reach the theatre, buy the tickets and the popcorn and be seated in time for the movie to start at 3.30.
A theatre where a balcony ticket still cost you Rs 60.
A theatre where the staff was so caring that when I went to watch Rang De Basanti the day Nana came back from hospital, they ensured that I got a seat next to ladies and was seated comfortably as I was watching the movie alone.
Between the two of these theatres, I must have seen just about every Hindi movie that I ever saw in Delhi.
Let me count.
Paras. Hmmm...
Aitraaz
Kisna
Hulchul
Paheli
Rang De Basanti
Shaadi Se Pehle
Karam
Khakee
Yuva
Bunty aur Babli (twice and on consecutive days)
Oh, and that Godawful rip-off of Anger Management where Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar dance in grass skirts.
And many more.
Chanakya, much lesser but nonetheless...
The greatest Hindi film ever made Neal N Nikki
The Rising
No Entry
Taxi number 9211
Goal
Khoya Khoya Chand
American Desi (that's the first movie I saw there)
Dhoom
Fida
Chak de India
Many of these movies I watched alone and no one ever bothered me.
Now, the shutters are down on both of them and my last hopes are pinned on Sangam where I have watched
Munnabhai MBBS
Dhoom 2
Phir Milenge
Lageraho Munnabhai
And a few more.
Chanakya is going to be razed and the NDMC is planning to replace it with an ugly multiplex. And Paras may re-open but I would not count on it. Sangam may be closed down any time to make way for a multiplex.
Makes me feel nostalgic and sad. The only thing that could make me feel better is the taste of the popcorn that they used to serve at Chanakya washed down with a bottle of Catch Clear Blackberry/Black Currant flavoured-water.
Alas, it's all gone. Never to return.
In December, they closed down Chanakya which was for most Delhiites nothing short of an institution and no comparison to those drawing-room sized overpriced garish monstrosities called multiplexes.
This time, as I discovered the other day in Nehru Place, they have closed down Paras. My Paras. A theatre where if at 3.20 I decided I wanted to watch a movie, I could actually leave, catch an auto, reach the theatre, buy the tickets and the popcorn and be seated in time for the movie to start at 3.30.
A theatre where a balcony ticket still cost you Rs 60.
A theatre where the staff was so caring that when I went to watch Rang De Basanti the day Nana came back from hospital, they ensured that I got a seat next to ladies and was seated comfortably as I was watching the movie alone.
Between the two of these theatres, I must have seen just about every Hindi movie that I ever saw in Delhi.
Let me count.
Paras. Hmmm...
Aitraaz
Kisna
Hulchul
Paheli
Rang De Basanti
Shaadi Se Pehle
Karam
Khakee
Yuva
Bunty aur Babli (twice and on consecutive days)
Oh, and that Godawful rip-off of Anger Management where Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar dance in grass skirts.
And many more.
Chanakya, much lesser but nonetheless...
The greatest Hindi film ever made Neal N Nikki
The Rising
No Entry
Taxi number 9211
Goal
Khoya Khoya Chand
American Desi (that's the first movie I saw there)
Dhoom
Fida
Chak de India
Many of these movies I watched alone and no one ever bothered me.
Now, the shutters are down on both of them and my last hopes are pinned on Sangam where I have watched
Munnabhai MBBS
Dhoom 2
Phir Milenge
Lageraho Munnabhai
And a few more.
Chanakya is going to be razed and the NDMC is planning to replace it with an ugly multiplex. And Paras may re-open but I would not count on it. Sangam may be closed down any time to make way for a multiplex.
Makes me feel nostalgic and sad. The only thing that could make me feel better is the taste of the popcorn that they used to serve at Chanakya washed down with a bottle of Catch Clear Blackberry/Black Currant flavoured-water.
Alas, it's all gone. Never to return.
posted by 8 by 52 at 9:16 AM
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