Multiplex plan on pause, iconic cinemas to reopen

KOLKATA: The new year is expected to usher in good news for Kolkata cine-goers, and it's all thanks to demonetisation. The iconic Minar and Bijoli theatres, which had downed shutters on July 1, along with Chhabighar, will reopen next year in their original single-screen theatre format.
Having suffered losses, plans were afoot to convert these cinemas to two-screen multiplexes, with shopping malls attached.After demonetisation, those involved in building the malls went on the backfoot, and the owner has decided to reopen the cinemas as they were.
For many movie buffs of a certain age, the Minar-BijoliChhabighar chain meant watching first-day first-shows of Uttam-Suchitra blockbusters.Shutting down these theatres had been a huge blow to them.For them, news of their reopening means an ideal situation -demonetisation blues turning into a blessing in disguise.Soumen Ganguly, assistant manager of Bijoli, is one such happy person. “Even for `Bajrangi Bhaijaan', we had such record collections that our entertainment tax shot above Rs 1 lakh.We are so happy that the cinemas are reopening,“ he said.
Haripriya Pal had built Chhabighar in1930, followed by Bijoli in 1935 and Minar in 1942.
His single-screen business did very well. Bijoli could accommodate more than 900 viewers, while Minar and Chhabighar had a capacity of 850plus and 670 viewers respectively. It was in Bijoli that Satyajit Ray had organised special shows of 'Piku' and 'Sadgati'.
“I remember sitting outside while people thronged to watch the movies. Even the gangways were full,“ said Somnath Pal, Haripriya's son and the current owner. `Goopi Gyne Bagha Byne' had run for 60 weeks at Bijoli. Many of Mrinal Sen's films were screened there too.Ritwik Ghatak's last film, `Jukti Tokko Aar Goppo', was also released at Bijoli in 1974. More recently, when Rituparno Ghosh made 'Unishe April', it was released at Bijoli.
“Tarun Mazumdar's 'Alo' also premiered at Bijoli. Many of Shakti Samanta's films, including the Uttam KumarSharmila Tagore starrer Ananda Ashram', premiered ` at Bijoli,“ Pal recounted.
As patronage for singlescreen theatres dwindled, footfall started dipping. “The quality of films with mass appeal also went down. That's when I decided to give the cinemas a makeover by introducing do uble-screen theatres along with a shopping mall in each property. However, the plan for the shopping mall has now been put on hold. Those who wanted to invest in that have gone on the backfoot,“ Pal said.
If all goes right, the halls will reopen in January. Pal is waiting to book a good film. If the footfall is good, he will think about reopening Chhabighar.
For close to six months, Bijoli cinema on SP Mukherjee Road has been wearing a forlorn look. But, contrary to popular perception that the cinema has been broken down inside and the machines sold off, everything is intact. Cosmetic work needs to be done, and it's ready to be back in business.