Cinema experience,than and now.

During the most part of 19th century there were no multiplexes.The so called cinema theatres were more of hall and less of theatre.The theatre used to have dress circle,balcony and in some theatre boxes(for lovers).When one entered the theatre there used to be a typical smell of pan,beedi,bit of urine and wet mud.People had only three choices as I’ve said earlier but there was a fourth choice.Right in front.All the brats,whistling experts,used to occupy that position with pride.I remember seating there once in Cine Metropole during movie ‘Coolie’ of BigB which became famous for the kick which AB received from Puneet Essar.It was house full with no ticket available.

          Those whose pockets were bit heavy preferred the balcony where the seats were just that little bit better but the so called a.c used to work rarely with full efficiency and used to be complemented by those huge Almonard wall fans.About the boxes less said the better.Most of the chairs had arms which were more often than not full of bugs.

           Another important feature of movie going of that time was the availability of popcorn and vanilla ice cream.There used to be just this two with no other choices.The moment one entered the hall the torch boy used to show each one of us the seat with his torch light.The sound system was plain loud with no effects whatsoever.Even than it was a pleasurable experience as that was the only source of entertainment available to us.

           Now we have the multiplexes.The entire décor make you feel as if you haven’t come for a movie but in a mall or in a hotel.The smell seems to have changed.You now have some kind of perfume smell,a bit of coffee aroma,pop corn flavour is in the air,beautiful boy and girls are moving here and there instead of ghatis of the old era.There is absolutely no trace of urine smell.Once you enter the hall you get a feeling that you’ve entered a cold chamber where the temp is so cool that it might even stifle your muscles.Instead of cigar and pan inside the hall we now have people talking on cell phones on and off and this is the new sign of general public disturbance.

          The sound system is a high tech Dolby system where once gets a feeling that people are screaming at your ears from all possible directions.Some sounds are so deep and intense that it hits your ear drums and heart.The seating arrangement is so plush and cushiony that you feel you are seating in a Jet.The toilets are neat and clean unlike the old theatre ones where many a time one had to wait to reach home to relieve oneself.

          All in all a change has happened for the better no doubt but one thing that has happened which isn’t being accepted by all and sundry which is the quality of the movies produced today.I am not talking about the technical aspect but the genre like the story,acting,music,dialogues and finer aspect of film making have been sacrificed at the altar of mass commercialisation.Therefore many still remember the old movies despite watching them in sub standard conditions than today’s movies watched in super comfort conditions.