Ram Rajya at Chitra Talkies

When I read a news report in The Tribune about an NRI panel visiting Amritsar’s Chitra Talkies cinema, I became nostalgic, recalling an incident after many decades. Chitra Talkies was the most visited cinema hall in Amritsar. My father hardly missed any film being screened at Chitra Talkies, which was then called Mahana Singh da Mandua, after its owner, Mahana Singh Naggi — though the original name was Crown Cinema Sardar Mahana Singh Theatrical Hall. My father would sometimes take me along, if the movie was on some religious theme. The owner knew my father as both belonged to the same village, Sultanwind. Though my father was offered free ticket, the only favour he wanted was to get the ticket without going to the box office. My father always paid for the ticket, but felt more relieved to get it without having to stand in a long queue.

When Ram Rajya, starring Prem Adib and Shobhana Samarth (mother of actors Nutan and Tanuja), was screened, my father took me along. In those days, sitting on folding chairs for three hours was quite uncomfortable. While sitting on the chair, my finger somehow got entangled between the seat and its frame. If I sat fully on the seat, my finger got pressed and hurt badly, but if I arose even a bit from the seat, I was pushed down by the person in the rear-row seat, behind me. My father was so engrossed in the movie, he didn’t notice my predicament. Some films were made so long, with song after song, as if they wanted to claim that for a three-hour show, it runs over three hours not less! Silently, I was praying for the interval. When the lights came on for intermission, I stood up to free my finger. My father wanted to know why I had got up from my seat and was fidgeting all this time. I was nearly in tears and told him about my problem. I showed him my finger which was quite swollen. He first admonished me for not telling him about my stuck finger, but later, showed rare concern and took me in his lap. He was not known for over-exhibition of affection. This was a rare gesture from him. He even bought me my favourite roasted makki di chhalli. In those days, no one fancied the now-popular popcorn which is a craze among movie-goers. Sitting in my father’s lap and enjoying chhalli made me forget my pain. I enjoyed corn on the cob much more than I did the movie!

During the lockdown, some old television serials and films are being shown. If televised, I doubt if I will like Ram Rajya much now.