Mysore's tryst with Agent Vinod is old

Walk the talkies

Name a movie produced under the banner of Rajshri and you can find it has been screened in Lido talkies. It includes Agent Vinod and Maine Pyar Kiya among others, writes Sreekantswamy B

A  biopic on ‘Father of the nation’ Mahatma Gandhiji titled ‘Gandhi’ in English was a runaway hit when it was released in theatres. Lido talkies in the city has the credit of screening the flick for 20 weeks, a record when it comes to the movies made on living legends.

M V Veerendra Kumar who had already tasted success in Olympia and Shalimar theatres in the city, was the brain behind Lido. It was also the same entrepreneur who founded Lido in Bangalore too.The then Governor Mohan Lal Sukhadia had dedicated the facility to the cinegoers on May 27, 1974. It was also something unique among the other theatres in the State for having balcony and pseudo balcony. It still remains the pride of the theatre to be the only screen to offer both types of balcony, M V Ajit Kumar the managing partner told City Herald.

When compared to other theatres, where only balcony forms the upper class, here it’s split into two. The only difference is the fare- for balcony it’s Rs 70 and pseudo it’s Rs 50 now. The experience of watching the movie from both the class is almost the same.

When Saif Ali Khan’s much awaited release of the year –Agent Vinod is already making waves, this talkies has the credit of screening a movie by the same name with different starcast. Tora Tora Tora, an American Japanese war film dramatizing the Japanese attack on pearl harbour is another prominent movie. Cleopatra is another Hollywood movie.
Chota Chetan a 3D was screened wayback in 1980’s.

First movie

Not to forget, Dr Rajkumar’s all time hit ‘Sampaththige Savaal’ was the first movie screened in the theatre to mark its beginning. In those days, there was a norm that theatres should screen Kannada films only for inaugural run. It ran for 100 days. Says Ajit Kumar both the lead actors- Raj and Manuela had visited the theatre at a programme organised to celebrate the successful run.

Similarly angry youngman of bollywood Amitabh Bachchan’s – Lawaaris, Sharaabi, Naseeb among others, Anil Kapoor’s Tezaab, Aamir Khan’s Dil, Sanjay Kapoor’s Raja have been successfully screened here. Of the recent hits, Hum Saath Saath Hain (HSSH) from the stable of Sooraj Barjathya of Rajshri productions is also screened.

Mention must be made of the bond of Rajshri and the lido. All the movies produced under the banner from- Satyajeet starrer ‘Agent Vinod to Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaaye, Maine Pyar Kiya to HSSH have been screened here. However, till Maine Pyar Kiya Hindi films were screened in morning show here and also successfully.

Claims Ajit Kumar- the leading actors of HSSH- Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Karishma Kapoor and also Sooraj Barjathya had visited the theatre for special screening of the  movie.

However, their visit was kept a secret to avoid troubles they may encounter. Of the very recent hits- Upendra’s comeback movie both as actor and director- Super went on to complete 100 days run. S Narayan’s ‘Cheluvina Chittara’, Puneeth Rajkumar’s ‘Arasu’ are among other notable movies shown here.