I had been to Kolhapur recently and actually stay in a nearby town that is around 6 kms from the main city. On the way home I saw “Ganesh Chitra Mandal" - a place where I used to go and watch movies. This cinema hall is on a walking distance from my locality and those old days going to this place were like going to a palace. I still remember, I used to clean my boots, wear the best shirt and a good looking pant etc etc....What an experience it used to be..... Great!
The present diary is dedicated to my childhood memories of being to that place and watching movies and to my latest stint over there.
It’s a small single screen cinema hall where targets audience is the local crowd. They somehow manage to get new flicks now and then. And what a day I choose to be there? It was movie "AGYAAT". Please don’t laugh at me and believe me I was just there to experience my old days and to have a different experience...LOL
At the ticket window the rates were:
1st - Rs.15
Stall - Rs.20
Balcony - 25
I said: Ek Balcony.
Got the ticket and it had no number on it! I asked: Baithna kahan hai?Number toh hai hi nahin? The fellow at the entrance gave me such a look as if he was enquiring as to from where I am been from? He said: Kahan bhi baith jao....jo khali hai woh tumhara... ( I thought...Hmmm... Things haven’t changed)
The film as you all know was itself an "AGYAAT". I was looking around for any changes in the hall. The upholstery seats were downgraded by steel hard seats. There are fans but because of electricity they run slow and sometimes just stop. The screen was small and the projector sounds were quiet audible. Why? Because it was just above us and you can actually see the fellow who operates it if you stood up on the chair. The voice quality of below average and it would seem so because I am very much used to ESquares and Inoxes...LOL
At interval, I rushed to the vendors to buy something. I saw "Vada Pav Rs.5), Tea in disposables glasses (Rs.5), coffee (Rs.8) Mirchi Bhajii (Rs.10) (people were actually preparing in front of us), ice cream (15) cold drinks in glass bottles (no tins n no fountains) etc etc... The menu has never changed at all and they have maintained the same stuff for almost 2 decades!
Overall the experience was nice because it took me back to my old village days and was feeling the same enthusiasm that I used to have in the past. Even in these times when my venues have changed but this place has a special place in my mind and it shall stay there forever.
Thank you for reading the post and do shower your comments.
