‘Retired’ DHR coach turns cinema hall

Darjeeling: The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) has converted two of its decommissioned toy train coaches into a cinema hall at Kurseong station, offering film buffs a "heritage experience on the tracks" during the three-day DHRUMA film festival in the Hills. DHR director Rishav Choudhary shared that two decommissioned coaches stationed at Kurseong were repurposed into fully functional cinema spaces to provide an accessible film-viewing experience. A 52-inch TV has been installed inside each coach, which can accommodate 26 seats. The DHRUMA film festival launched its unique ‘Screening on Wheels' concept, offering visitors an unprecedented opportunity to enjoy award-winning films inside the iconic toy train coaches. "This is the first time such an initiative was undertaken. It brought cinematic magic to the tracks and allowed both tourists and locals to experience our heritage in an entirely new way. A curated selection of award-winning short films and documentaries were screened inside the retrofitted compartments, completely free and open to all. We also held a blood donation camp on Friday, drawing participation from tourists, locals and railway staff alike," said Choudhary.He added a masterclass on photojournalism and photography was conducted by Padma Shri awardee Sudharak Olwe, engaging aspiring photographers and storytellers from across the region. "The DHRUMA film festival will continue at Kurseong, with parallel screenings at Ramakrishna Siksha Parishad, Darjeeling, till Sunday. A session on filmmaking will be conducted by National Award-winning directors Anirban Datta and Amitabh Singh. The festival will end at Siliguri, where we will award the winners," Choudhary said.DHR officials emphasised that the summer festival aimed at infusing the hill stations with creative energy — providing a fresh attraction for tourists and a platform for local talent.