Bleak picture of single-screen cinemas in Amritsar

For decades, single-screen cinemas enthralled the audience with new releases and reruns of old classics. However, as the culture of multiplexes came along, these slowly faded into oblivion. Tribune reporter Charanjit Singh Teja and lensman Vishal Kumar visit the disappearing theatres in the holy city

Amritsar’s single-screen cinemas, which were once considered a favourite hangout for people of all age groups, are now getting demolished. Shopping malls with multiplexes are fast catching people’s fancy. A few decades ago, more than 25 cinema halls used to entertain city residents. The cinemas, including Sangam, Suraj-Chanda-Tara, New Rialto, Adarsh, Ann Amm, Gagan, Inder Palace, Regal Talkies, and Amrit Talkies once dominated the scene, but are now struggling for survival.

History of cinema

A Hamid, in his book ‘Amritsar Ki Yaaden’, wrote that during pre-Partition days, the circus used to come from Delhi and Mumbai and pitch a tent at Anjuman Park. There was an old-style building of Pearl Talkies, also known as Maha Singh’s Mandua, which was once a theatre where Agha Hashar Kashmiri used to play dramas. Inside, this gallery was exquisitely built, just like the theatres of Europe. When the cinema came into existence, Ranjit Movietone from Bombay, which produced films between 1929 and 1970, started showcasing movies like Bhola Shikar, Tufan Mail, and Roop Basant. Then Prabhat-Cinetone’s Punjabi movies such as Istriyan Da Raj, Padausi started showing on stage with temporary screen. The New Theater’s Manzil, Daku Mansoor and Devdas were also screened in Mandua. Here’s a lowdown on some of the prominent cinema halls in the city.

Sangam: Still running the show

Sangam Cinema is the only single-screen cinema which shows currently released movies. It is a popular theatre. The ticket prices are low as compared to the multiplexes and its picture and sound quality are good too. Though it has lost the old glory as people prefer to watch movies in multiplexes, the rural audience, which alight at the bus stand, still prefer to watch the movie and return home by bus. The parking space and location of the cinema always attract the public.

Chitra: The oldest hall in Punjab

Chitra Cinema is one of the oldest cinema halls in the state. The cinema was constructed by Mahna Singh Nagi (Ramgaria) in 1909. Mahna Singh was a native of Lullan village, near Jandiala Guru. Its construction was completed in 1915. Initially, the name of the cinema was Crown Cinema Sardar Mahna Singh Theatrical Hall.

Residents used to call it Mahna Singh Da Mandua. Mandua is a Punjabi name for theatre. This over-a-century-old building, lying abandoned, attracts heritage lovers from all over. People want that it should be preserved.

AanAam Cinema: Curtains down

Aanaam Cinema was inaugurated on June 28, 1970, by Kawar Surinder Bedi, then Principal Secretary to the Punjab Chief Minister. The cinema closed during the outbreak of Covid-19.

Similar is the story of New Rialto, which existed in front of the central post office and posh civil lane locality. The cinema started in the 70s and closed in 2018. The building is still there, but the gates are closed for the visitors.

Suraj-Chanda-Tara: Changing with times

Only Suraj-Chanda-Tara cinemas upgraded themselves over time and turned into multiplexes. Others started displaying Bhojpuri or B-grade movies to cater to the migrant workers for survival.

The cinema is located on the Outer Ring Road of the walled city and near the bus stand. There was never a dearth of the audience to these three cinemas in one building. These cinemas are now associated with PVR and offer food and other facilities of the multiplexes.

Inder Palace: Falling for plan B

The condition of the cinema hall building is pathetic and rainwater accumulates inside during the monsoon. It displays Bhojpuri movies for migrant workers.

The parking space for autorickshaws attracts migrant workers, who often get a break by getting tickets of Rs 30. The cinema shows a pitiful picture of single-screen cinemas, with no future.

Amrit Talkies: Shows low-budget movies

Amrit Talkies is the only functional cinema in the walled city located on a narrow link road between Hall Bazaar and Katra Jaimal Singh. The cinema displays low-budget movies nowadays.

Adarsh cinema: Show’s over

It is located at the intersection of Lawrence Road to MM Road and Mall Road, a prime location in the city. An old photograph digitised by Punjab Digital Library shows the crowded cinema during the show of the Punjabi Movie Chann Pardesi in 1981.

Before its closing in 2018, the cinema started showing Bhojpuri and South Indian movies. The last film showed in the cinema was Rajni Kant’s Chandramukhi, which was released in 2005.