<p>Do you know there is a bond between theatres and Mahatma Gandhi? A dedicated row is named after the great personality as ‘Gandhi class’.<br /><br /></p>.<p>However, the sad story is- Gandhi here too is slowly being relegated to the pages of history. Similar is the story nation-wide. The front row in cinema halls are popular as ‘Gandhi class’ for the cheapest fare in comparison to other classes- balcony or lower class (also called second class). <br /><br />It was the exclusive slot for economically weaker sections also called as frontbenchers in cine circuit. They also had the privilege of watching their screen gods in close-up albeit on screen.<br /><br />Why it was named after Gandhi is- for the simple life style the great personality lived. Here, the particular class is also offered in a simplest fare. Among 15 major cine halls in the city, hardly a few- two or three still have ‘Gandhi class’ to offer but with less number of seats. <br /><br />Earlier, the theatres were having nearly 100 seats for Gandhis. The tickets are sold between Rs 10 and Rs 15. While the rest have removed the particular rows for reasons- from dwindling audience to changing mindset of the people who never mind to shell a pie or two extra for the privilege of watching a movie in swanky balcony or even middle class. <br /><br />Said an exhibitor who has nearly four decades of experience in the realm- Gandhi class is a must according to the law. Five to 10 per cent of the total capacity should be reserved for the weaker sections of the society. <br /><br />Quoting late N Veeraswamy a popular Kannada film producer and distributor and father of actor V Ravichandran, the exhibitor said- the frontbenchers are the opinion makers.<br /><br />Those were the days when the distributors were keen on knowing their pulse. If the tickets for Gandhi... were sold out, common was the opinion about other classes. <br /><br />It was also the criterion to decide the fate of a movie-either hit or flop. It was the same front benchers making a crinkling sound tossing coins in awe of their favourite actors. The class would be full and it’s still the same for commercials- especially action packed movies, irrespective of languages.</p>
<p>Do you know there is a bond between theatres and Mahatma Gandhi? A dedicated row is named after the great personality as ‘Gandhi class’.<br /><br /></p>.<p>However, the sad story is- Gandhi here too is slowly being relegated to the pages of history. Similar is the story nation-wide. The front row in cinema halls are popular as ‘Gandhi class’ for the cheapest fare in comparison to other classes- balcony or lower class (also called second class). <br /><br />It was the exclusive slot for economically weaker sections also called as frontbenchers in cine circuit. They also had the privilege of watching their screen gods in close-up albeit on screen.<br /><br />Why it was named after Gandhi is- for the simple life style the great personality lived. Here, the particular class is also offered in a simplest fare. Among 15 major cine halls in the city, hardly a few- two or three still have ‘Gandhi class’ to offer but with less number of seats. <br /><br />Earlier, the theatres were having nearly 100 seats for Gandhis. The tickets are sold between Rs 10 and Rs 15. While the rest have removed the particular rows for reasons- from dwindling audience to changing mindset of the people who never mind to shell a pie or two extra for the privilege of watching a movie in swanky balcony or even middle class. <br /><br />Said an exhibitor who has nearly four decades of experience in the realm- Gandhi class is a must according to the law. Five to 10 per cent of the total capacity should be reserved for the weaker sections of the society. <br /><br />Quoting late N Veeraswamy a popular Kannada film producer and distributor and father of actor V Ravichandran, the exhibitor said- the frontbenchers are the opinion makers.<br /><br />Those were the days when the distributors were keen on knowing their pulse. If the tickets for Gandhi... were sold out, common was the opinion about other classes. <br /><br />It was also the criterion to decide the fate of a movie-either hit or flop. It was the same front benchers making a crinkling sound tossing coins in awe of their favourite actors. The class would be full and it’s still the same for commercials- especially action packed movies, irrespective of languages.</p>
