MOVIE HALLS - RELICS IN OUR OWN TIMES

MOVIE HALLS - RELICS IN OUR OWN TIMES

Even through the thick of our dreams, none would ever have felt that one day those massive theatres would face extinction. That it could happen in a matter of decades is painful, though we the audience have not suffered the set back. Yet, to lose out a cultural segment leaves a ripple of pain that several ancillary services connected with a movie hall too would have faced drought of extinction; it makes a sad reading indeed.  It is not our field of operation to analyze the underlying causes that led to the demise of that industry. But, ourselves having been the beneficiaries in our own way, cannot but lament that a glorious social event -  ‘moving going’ has reached a state of nightmare. What –‘Nightmare? Yes, I mean the magnitude of prohibitive cost of visiting a movie hall these days. What was a simple expenditure of Rs 20/- or so for a movie viewing [3 -4 people including for the snacks] is a thing of the past. It looks that unless one can manage to shell out Rs 1000/- a small family of 3 members, with no extravaganza of snacks or cold drinks, movie is just out of reach. People would console themselves citing that several other platforms cater to movie viewing within the confines of our homes. Agreed, but does it replicate the thrill of viewing a movie on big screen in the company of general public? Certainly it cannot. Movie-going was groomed into a culture largely because of the affordability factor then – even if a movie boasted itself of ‘star value’, imposing presentation and so on. With none of those ‘star factors’ the cost now looks unmanageable; slowly, it has led to loss of patronage resulting in ‘movie screening a tough proposition’. All said and done, mind being what it is, it chooses to recall things of the past.

Looking back

There was a near euphoria at the thought of an impending movie by the evening. Some revealed it while many concealed it. Probably, the mind was conditioned that except in a movie, no visuals of cinemas were possible then. At best, songs could be heard by radio or from music systems. So, the social acceptance for the mega stars of our times was greater than to what the present day ‘stars’ can hope to aspire for. In fact the then ‘stars’ remained confined to their territories – making themselves rare commodities. That way they were not available in public domain which in turn elevated the common man’s desire to ‘see’ them. Those stars could not manage a safe passage through audience, except if escorted. If someone could sight them in flesh and blood it was while they were in a movie shooting in tourist places. Together, these parameters made movie-going quite attractive and did not throw up any economic challenge. All pricing of tickets were reasonable; movie screening activity was profitable though low on fares. The present day fares look rather unfair running to a few hundred per ticket; but movie houses do not boast of profits. The then show sequences were ‘matinee’, the first show and the second show. Now first show opens in the morning hours by 6.30 or so in some cities. 

There were no ‘on line booking’ schemes then. People had to line-up in queues before the appropriate booking counter and tender correct fare or face the ‘ire’ of the issuing clerk who would at times turn down your plea and insist on your tendering the right fee. So, people were ready with right amount to buy the ticket without a hitch. As we move inward into the precincts of the hall, the lobby zone was a major attraction. It was here that ‘important ‘frames’ from that movie were on display as ‘stills’. Viewing stills was half of a thrill of viewing the movie. Those snaps were just a replica of the actual scene in the movie.  Some friends would suggest “let us see the ‘stills’ during intermission so that we know what these shots convey” –having seen the first part of the movie. The first level attraction in visiting a movie hall was those ‘stills’. Movie stills were really of high quality, they being the ‘ambassadors’ for each movie by silently advertising the product. Movie viewing in standard theatres had the thrill component as a part of the exercise.

The intermission in a movie was a time of buzz in procuring the eatables or beverages ; there were also moderately priced candies , fried peanut etc ; they were not fleecing in price [unlike at present]. Such standard movie halls had balanced acoustics and evenly served audio output in the auditorium. None of them can be aspired for even under the best of comforts at home.

For very many years, tickets were moderately priced and the highest denomination for a one seat -box accommodation was below Rs5/-. The new generation youth may not accept that a large chunk of balcony seats were each priced Re1. Ps 10 [popular as one ten in late seventies].This would mean that the rear most accommodations in the ground floor were below Rs 1.10/- Such was the low pricing those days. But, several movies made huge profits even through this frugal billing. Good movies ran for several days with packed house. It was common to note many movies that ran for 100 continuous days in the same theatre; box office hits used to register Silver jubilee [25 weeks at a stretch in a theatre in many towns and cities]. One can   readily infer the patronage enjoyed by good movies. Now-a-days, the 10^th show for a movie is acclaimed as patronage.

Obviously movies of the day lack the binding element – emotion; the earlier movies of 1960s, reflected oneness with the common man in attire, day-to-day life pattern and a presentation of the most common domestic organization. The songs of those times had a purpose of propelling the story though a few of them did have romantic element. There was just no violence of the kind projected in present day movies. Heroes had certain prescriptions like looks, gesture and facial profile suitable for close-up presentation. All such criteria have been disbanded and blatant display of gender features and utterances all too rustic have robbed the movies of their pride as domestically acceptable entertainers. Naturally, among cine-goers, a bitter hate to the story treatment, offering forage for violence and vulgarity has come about. With systemic shortcomings movies have had a systematic rejection by audience. With whooping cost of movie production, high ticket pricing has had a ‘killer effect’ on movie-going’. The industry instead of making efforts to make the ends meet, has nearly met its end.

The net result of declining reception for movies among audience further eroded into viewer’s purse by a manifold increase of ‘expenditure for movie-going’. Many cinema halls have retracted from screening movies and have turned relics. Literally many are ‘empty halls’ with all the seats pulled off. Those halls in vantage points have taken new ‘AVATAR’ as marriage halls. Those in busy locales have turned parking lots. Prominent spacious movie houses have lent themselves to be mega shops for textiles. Some do not seem to have scope for any of these and STAND as edifices of empire once and now forgotten and disowned, looking as pale shadows of haunted structures. Time has played havoc.

Prof. K. Raman