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Big screen movie experience is always charming. Not as much now as I feel like an alien surrounded by boisterous college students and sometimes crying kids. With my kids relatively grown up, watching movies in theaters has become a calmer experience, as we are pretty much assured of an uninterrupted movie viewing pleasure. But, it is a huge ask to find movies that the entire family can watch together. So most such outings are confined to super-hero flicks and science flicks like Gravity and Interstellar, which are stunning to watch for their scale even if you can’t completely fathom them.
Growing up in 80s India, almost all new releases were watched on the Big screen. We had no satellite TV or multiple movie channels back then. Parents took us along for all the potboilers of those days. Apart from seeing everything in bright colors and large sized, what elated us about the big screen movie experience were things very different. Some of them are listed here:
The magical “Interval”
We used to really await the Interval, which is the mandatory break in movies when people rush to the loos or to get snacks. We all waited to get our favorite soft drink. Campa Cola and Limca along with Gold Spot were my favorites those days. Coke had been driven out of the country, and we had not even heard of it. We siblings would be grinning from ear to ear grabbing our bottle of precious soft drink with a small sealed packet of salty popcorn or thin salted/masala potato chips. No Sir, not the fancy stuff you get now but very rudimentary snacks. You could also get cold samosas but kids did not prefer that. Yes, soft drinks were had very sparingly those days and were a treat back then. Those were the days of sharbat, Rooh Afza and later Rasna.
The usher with the torch
There was an usher with a torch who would escort you to your seat if you got late because you were most likely to stumble and fall in the dead dark of the cinema hall. The stairs had no lighting and tumbling was a common sight. The seat backs were not lit either, and there were no cellphones that one could use to light up the proceedings. The seats were not the plush kinds now available in multiplexes. You had regular seats made of foam that could not be eased back. Sometimes, you would also encounter torn upholstery and someone’s left over snacks sticking to your clothes. While going to your seat, you would most likely trample on someone’s feet regularly.
The Stalls
And how can I forget the nomenclature and the thrills associated with each category. There were Stalls and Balcony with separate entrance and exits for both. Some theatres also had the Dress Circle.The Stalls were where you sat when you wanted a headache and were broke but still wanted to watch a movie. I remember watching Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak with my head at an uncomfortable obtuse angle to my neck, as I tried to glare at the monsters on the screen. In those days, the most rowdy crowds inhabited the stalls. Cat calls and vulgar dialogs were a part of the package if you were daring enough to watch the movies in the stalls. The Balcony was the safe haven with more decent crowd and families and lesser strain on the necks.
The ticket prices
Unlike today, you did not have to loot a bank to watch a movie on the big screen those days. These days, the tickets are obscenely priced, and the snacks are an even bigger rip off. Even as a cash-starved teen, I could watch a movie in the theater with my pocket money. I really wonder about the teens of today. Their parents must be giving them a fat sum every month, and I am dreading the day when my son starts asking me for the same.
Yes, walking down the memory lane was fun and also reminiscing about the bright lights of the silver screen.
What fond memories do you have of the big screen movie watching experience of yore?
This post took me to a time travel. Dad worked in a central govt enterprise, so we had a cinema hall in the community centre of our colony, where we used to watch English movies on Wednesdays and Hindi movies on Fridays. And yes, we really looked forward to the interval, though mom used to pack some snacks in lunchboxes. It was a great time to socialize as well, as this cinema hall was meant only for the employees. I think, I saw a movie in a regular cinema hall when I was in college and it was kind of cultural shock 😀
Hehe That sounds quite incredible — the community viewing experience. The movie outings were rare those days and much more exciting. Come to think of it, they are much rarer now.
The difference in ticket price today can vary by location too. In Thane we can see a movie for 150 easily… Phoenix Marketcity in Parel it is over 500! It is cheaper in some places in the West than in India in that case.
I do like having the interval here – except in 90 minute kid films. When they’re that short it really can break the flow.
I do like the interval too to grab a snack or for a loo break. Here in Bangalore, the ticket prices are obscene. You burn a hole when the entire family goes to watch.
We used to watch movies for less than $10 in the US. I remember the $2 movie theatres fondly too. So yes it was cheaper there than here.
Oh yes, Gold Spot and the staircase used to be so dark. I remember the attendant guiding us towards the vacant seats since the seats were not numbered. I can’t forget a match box being thrown from the back row over my head.
Recently, I also saw Interstellar in a nearby multiplex and it was good fun.
Not numbered? I remember them being numbered. The only place where I encountered unnumbered seats was in the US. Yes, Interstellar was wonderful.
This was a nostalgic read, Rachna. During my growing up years, going to the movies wasn’t as common as it is these days. It used to be a special occasion, really, at least in our family 🙂 And strangely now after all these decades I am back at that point when I don’t go much to the movie theaters, mostly because there isn’t much good stuff out there these days. But whenever I do get an opportunity it is always a great source of enjoyment. The whole experience of going out with family/friends for a movie brings back lots of fun memories. I think the most fun I had at movies was during my college days, bunking classes to go to movies 🙂
Yes, Beloo, moviegoing was a special occasion back then but I think we watched more movies in the theatres than we do now. With satellite and TV releases, I prefer to watch movies at home. College time was the best. 🙂
Those were the days…Trust me,I have seen movies in Bombay when the tickets in premium theaters like Metro and Regal was as low as Rs 3 for what they called DRESS CIRCLE.
Watching movie in multiplex can never give the same feel ever.
Oh yes, the Dress Circle. I remember that too. Those were the fun days!
I love watching movies in the Cinema-Hall & my dad took us pretty often. Have watched most Amitabh Bachchan movies in the Hall 🙂
Big screens are great!
Oh yes, I think all AB movies were watched in the theatres. Such fun!
Ah,, the stall and balcony days. So much nostalgia. You know there was also this thing called DRESS CIRCLE in those days?
Yes, Pepper, I remember the Dress Circle. 🙂
That did sound like a lifetime ago. I am assuming some of those old style picture halls still exist. I wonder what shape they are in now.
Thanks for the nostalgic ride!
They still do. I still see Metro and Regal in Bombay. I haven’t been to a single screen theatre in ages. I wonder how they are too. Thanks for reading!
As a kid, going to movie halls meant sitting with a bagful of popcorn and assorted snacks that Mom would carry. These days, one look at those Jumbo sizes and your appetite goes for a toss.
These days its more about trying to curb annoyance at having to deal with thoughtless people who’d rather stare at their mobile, have long conversations, with little consideration for others.
Indeed, these supersized snacks are terrible. Yes, people have become really brash throwing all courtesy to the winds. I hate it when people chat loudly or talk on their phones.
when i was kid,i was scared to go to theatre and to watch a movie coz i could not bear crying and sad scenes in the movie.i was too scared of blood and loud sound during fighting scenes too,i used to close my eyes and ask my parents to return home. i din’t watch much movies until i went to professional college.i became movie freak later,it was very peaceful movie experience at hyderabad cinemas like sai kishore and sangeeth cinemas which used to play all new hollywood movie releases.
in recent years,am again scared to watch a movie.the reason is people who come to watch movie with their smart phones and tablets and friends.they chit-chat all through the movie.when you ask them to shut up,they try to argue with you in english thinking it will null their bad manners.am really fed up with these english speaking flashy hooligans and i seldom go to movies these days.another nuisance is multiplex guys taking refreshment orders in middle of movie,can’t people sit without eating for 3hrs.imax theatres are another frustrating experience coz you have to sit all along 3hours without a intermission coz they say imax technology won’t have breaks.i went to interstellar and i had same experience again,with time there is lots of development in technology and with time the social behavior of humans is going back to stone age .i don’t want to watch a movie sitting with cave men in dolby atmos multiplex.its really odd and frustrating.
Yes the cellphones and noisy kids are a huge issue. It drives me nuts. My family also watches a movie rarely.
Thanks for refreshing the memories ! Lovely to reminisce about the big screen movie watching experience. I remember watching ‘Malamal Weekly’ which was the last movie we watched in the neighborhood theater which closed down.. And as you say, we weren’t really robbed like now. Now, I always think twice about watching a movie in the theater because of the amount you have to shell out.
Same here, Asha. Glad you liked the post. 🙂
Interesting post. Took me down the memory lane. Watching movies with different people is a different experience – alone, with parents, with uncle, with granparents, with cousins, with friends at different phases of life, with wife, with wife and in-laws. Guess watching with my son is going to be a new experience though I suspect my tastes are going to match more with him than with my wife – for instance I loved Toy Story 2 and wife got bored. Wife loved Barfi and I got bored.
Very true. Movie experience is different with different people. Almost all of us have very fond memories of watching movies with friends. Yes, I am sure your tastes will match with your son’s. All kids love superhero movies. My children give me company for all the movies while the husband and I have very different tastes.
Nostalgia time! I still remember sitting on one corner of the second row and watching a cinemascope movie. When a blot of color tinged the extreme end, I had to pass on a question to near the center to get to know just who had entered the scene 🙂 It took some time for the eyes to adjust and recognize the images 🙂
hahaha Fun!
I had had this kinda experience decades back when when a a kid I watched’ Dragon Heart’ in a local hall in a small town when i was vacationing at a relatives place 🙂
I haven’t been to a single screen theatre in ages. 🙂
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It was really fun going to the theatre because it didn’t happen often and yes, it was those rare occasions when we were allowed cold drinks! I loved eating chips and popcorn while trying to understand the movie, as a child!!
It was fun! These days, however, I barely watch movies in the theatres. Perhaps 5-6 in a year. G and I sneak through a couple on our own. Mostly, all the talking, cellphones and crying kids put me off. 🙂
Gold Spot, I loved it. You made me nostalgic. My movie experience was being treated like a VIP. I saw most pictures in the box over the upper stall. We paid no money and were given royal treatment. My mother worked in Electricity board and the nearby cinema extended that luxury to all the employees irrespective of rank or class. 🙂
That’s interesting, the VIP treatment. I used to love Campa cola more. 🙂
As they say, Movies and Masti. I love the traditional theatres and think that Bandra still has the dress circle. I love the typical Eros, Galaxy theatres and my heart tanked to see theaters turning into multiplex. It takes away the experience, I feel. Superb post, Rachna Srivastava Parmar
Thanks for reading, Vishal. Glad you enjoyed this nostalgic trip.