Movie theatres lost in sheen of multiplexes

Divya Sharma

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 8

With the change of trend and coming up of multiplexes, the traditional single-screen cinemas have lost their charm.

These cinemas, once thronged by movie-goers, long for crowds these days. Single-screen cinemas such as Sangam, Adarsh, Aanam and Rialto among others were popular spots in the past for movie-goers and for family outings before the arrival of the multiplex culture.

People lining up in long queues at these places to grab a ticket of the latest release of their favorite movie star was a common sight in the past.

Recalling those days, Rajesh Kumar, one of the members of the management of the forty-year-old Aanam Cinema, said, “I vividly remember one instance where we had to shut the doors due to a heavy rush for an Akshay Kumar release in the 1990s. Such are the memories of this cherished place.”

“Our business got affected first with the arrival of the Cable TV, then CDs and finally with the arrival of the malls and the multiplexes, it has all but disappeared. Our customers have moved to multiplexes and malls for their entertainment. But even today, we are making an effort to maintain the quality of movies being shown in our cinema and a few people are coming,” said Karan Singh, the manger at the cinema.

These cinemas have found their fresh audience from rural areas and low-income groups, who keep coming to lap up their share of entertainment. Narinder Kumar, the manager at another popular cinema, Adrash cinema, said, “People from villages, college students and low-income groups are coming in good numbers, but the original audience has moved to the malls. That craze for traditional cinemas is no more.”

There was a unique seating arrangement at these cinemas, which would come in two categories, the hall and the balcony with four shows a day.

Bhupinder Singh, a ticket collector at Sangam cinema, said, “I have been working here for the past 25 years. Those were the days of cinema’s glory. I still remember the response the latest releases would get. Now people have options, they can visit any cinema for any movie; previously, only one movie was designated to a single theatre.” Another popular cinema, Rialto, was shut down owing to the present dismal scenario.