Of single screens theatres

Legacy knocks

When was the last time you saw a movie in a theatre? Probably, just yesterday. And in a single screen theatre? Many might wonder what is the fuss all about single screen theatres, especially in today’s times where a multiplex has several screens to cater to maximum people with the best quality services. What matters is the craze, the way cinema was seen and the way it was more than entertainment at affordable rates, a long long time ago.

Says Deepak Chopra, a shop owner near Ritz Cinema, Kashmere Gate, which is currently screening the hugely popular Salman Khan-starrer Bajrangi Bhaijaan. “There was a time, in the early 70s till the 90s when films used to run for longer and cater to the neighbourhood. It was a family holiday to go for a movie.”

Delhi has had its share of ‘cinematic experiences’ that have run their course and have shut down either crushed in the name of development or converted into shoddy godowns, unlike their original charm. Fortunately, a few still have survived the competition posed by plush multiplexes in Delhi like the Ritz Cinema at Lothian Road, Kashmere Gate.

Gopal Sharma, general manager at Ritz Cinema since ‘11 February 1972’ tells
Metrolife, “The single screens used to have a different craze with 600 people and more. We had 100 per cent housefull. Now, its over. Now the people are less, just 200-250 people. The films used to run for even a year. There used to be good filmmakers too. Now, they are hardly any,” he rues, adding, “Some people still enquire about the different coloured tickets which are hardly seen after e-tickets.”

The other single-screen theatres that are still in business include Sapna, Sangam, Regal, Vishal, Kalamandir, Amba, Alpana, Batra, Filmistan, Liberty, Golcha, Delite, Shiela, Westend, Moti and Imperial. And their owners believe they cater to a specific audience.
Ritz which was set up in the 1930s was considered a ‘posh cinema’ with a bar and a billiards table in the earlier days.

Sharma says, “The shelf life of movies is less now. Public does come. But the gentry are less.” He adds, “Single-screen theatres have not become totally redundant. They are still required by filmmakers because there is still a lot of single-screen niche audience. Multiplexes serve only the high-class audience.” However, he admits that in the last 20 years no new single-screen theatre has come up in Delhi.

Though college students frequent the place because of lesser rates with the Balcony Box being the costliest at Rs 140, Sharma admits that “maintenance has been the real issue.”
He explains to Metrolife, “The seats are old. We still follow the old techniques. People spend more money and look for luxury and single screens do not have that kind of luxury. Also, a big reason for people to go to multiplexes are the restaurants in the same building. Then they don’t need to go anywhere else to eat after the movie. This is where our services lack.”

“Sapna Cinema was also lying in shambles until they renovated it. The owners invested crores and now it gives a tough competition to multiplexes. We also plan to give a ‘new look’ to this place,” he adds confidently.