Watching ‘Ram Rajya’ at Mahna Singh da Mandua in Amritsar  

As Amritsar bid adieu to one of its oldest cinema halls, Chitra Cinema, recently, I was reminded of my outings to it as a child with my father. It was called Chitra Talkies before Partition. My father never missed any film which was screened in the hall. It was popularly known as Mahna Singh da mandua, after its owner Mahna Singh Naggi, though its original name was Crown Cinema Sardar Mahna Singh Theatrical Hall. My father used to take me along if some religious movie was being screened.

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I distinctly remember my father taking me along to see ‘Ram Rajya’ (1943), starring Prem Adib and Shobhna Samarth (mother of later-day actresses Nutan and Tanuja), in Chitra Talkies. In those days, the audience used to sit on folding chairs. During the movie, somehow a finger of my left hand finger got entangled between the seat and its frame. I couldn’t sit properly because if I sat down on, my finger got pressed and pained, and if I remained suspended over the chair, I was shouted down by those sitting behind.

My father was so engrossed in the movie, he hardly noticed my predicament. When the lights came on for the intermission, I stood up to free my finger, my father wanted to know why I had risen from my seat. Tearfully, I told him about my problem and showed him my swollen figure. He first admonished me for not telling him earlier, and then asked me sit in his lap, a rare gesture as he was not known for exhibiting any affection. He even bought me my favourite roasted makki di chhalli. Sitting in his lap and munching on chhalli, made me forget my pain. I enjoyed that time with my father so much that I could not concentrate on the rest of the movie.

During the lockdown, when many old TV serials and films were screen, I wistfully hoped to watch the missed second half of ‘Ram Rajya’ though I have no regrets of missing it earlier, as those moments with my father still remain etched in my heart.

LJ Singh, Amritsar