A 45-paisa ticket to dream world at Kalka

In the 1970s, life in Railway Colony, Kalka, was a gentle blend of simplicity and charm. Perched at the foothills, the town breathed cool mountain air, and our days moved to the rhythm of train whistles and rustling pines.

Entertainment was a community affair—cultural nights at the Railway Staff Institute, street cricket, and spirited gossip over evening tea. But the crown jewel of our week were the Tuesday matinees at a modest theatre near the railway under-bridge, reserved exclusively for ladies.

Tuesday mornings buzzed with excitement. Long before the show, the ‘poster boys’ arrived — drummers parading down the lanes, wearing giant film posters the size of billboards strapped to their backs, shouting film titles with a theatrical flair.

The women would gather in clusters, laughter spilling into the streets. The ticket was 45 paise each, usually hand-delivered by the poster boys with a dramatic bow.

On Tuesdays, wearing their prettiest sarees, sharing homemade snacks, most women escaped into a world of love and adventure. The cinema became their sanctuary — a break from routine and a celebration of sisterhood.

In those brief hours, they weren’t just housewives or mothers — they were dreamers, rather stars of their own stories. Tuesdays in Kalka weren’t ordinary — they were magical.

 GP Singh Sandhu, Mohali