One more single-screen theatre shuts shop in central Kolkata

KOLKATA: One of the city's oldest single screen theatres, Intally Talkies, is permanently closing down. Tucked away on Dr Suresh Sarkar Road, the theatre used to draw a sizeable crowd for Hindi releases. However, footfall declined with time and the last nail on the coffin was the pandemic. The cinema never recovered from the Covid blow. Recently, its management informed the Eastern India Motion Pictures Association (EIMPA) about its permanent closure.

EIMPA president Piya Sengupta told TOI that the organization had received a letter in February stating that the "cinema hall unit has been closed on and from September 2, 2022". "They sent the letter on February 21 this year and asked us to cancel their EIMPA membership. We have accepted it," Sengupta said.

Even a year or so ago, anyone walking down that road towards the Moulali crossing would not miss the tiny fairy on the roof of Intally Talkies. Today, that fairy has disappeared from the roof. The dilapidated cinema is a picture of neglect while it stands behind a collapsible gate. On its facade hangs a notice that warns trespassers of prosecution. In addition, it mentions that the property now belongs to Delpro Enclave Pvt Ltd.

The security guard manning the building has no idea about the fate of the cinema. Old-timers have memories of watching many big Bollywood hits there. The cinema was established by Harendra Krishna Das. Some say he also owned another cinema in Howrah. Intally Talkies had a fabulous run for Dilip Kumar's 'Ram Aur Shyam' (1967), Sharmila Tagore-Rajesh Khanna's 'Aradhana' (1969) and Rajesh Khanna 'Haathi Mere Saathi' (1971). In and around the area, three other single screens - Gem, Jagat and Tasveer Mahal - enjoyed good footfall. A little down the road on SN Banerjee Road was Lotus cinema. Some say 'Sholay' was released at Gem and Intally simultaneously. Except for Jagat, all the other cinemas are not operational now.


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