#TheatreLove: A movie theatre was responsible for me failing to get into IIT: Y Gee Mahendra

Shanti Theatre is the place that comes to mind first when I think about my memorable movie-going experiences. The manager of the theatre was a friend of my father, so I have watched movies there by just calling him up and placing a request for tickets. I’ve also bought tickets at the place standing in a queue and getting lathi-charged. The first film I watched there was an English movie, though I can’t recall its name.But I do remember the first Tamil film I watched there — Paava Mannippu. I watched it with my grandmother and she was cursing MR Radha’s character for trying to ruin Sivaji Ganesan’s character!
Another memory is of watching Deiva Magan there after bunking class. The film was so good that I decided I’d tell my parents all about it that evening. However, when I went home, my father told me that he had booked tickets for the entire family for that night’s show. So, I decided to stay mum, and went along with them to watch my idol Sivaji sir give one of his greatest performances again. I had to act surprised at the twist and turns, even though I’d watched it before. I must have acted even more than Sivaji sir that day!
I almost lived at Shanti, I should say. And the cherry on the cake was watching my own film — Pareetchaikku Neramachu — from the balcony there. I was sitting right next to Sivaji sir, who made me watch it to see the audience’s reactions!
Elphinstone Theatre is where we would watch a lot of English films. Jayalalithaa, who was part of our troupe then, used to take us there on weekends when she did not have shoots. And a trip to Elphinstone was never complete without having ice cream at Jaffar & Co, that was nearby. Sometimes, we enjoyed the ice cream more than the movie!
Minerva on Broadway is also memorable to me because its manager, too, was known to my dad, and he was very strict about letting in underage persons for A-certified movies. My friends and I decided to go for Last Train From Gun Hill. Unfortunately, it was rated A at that time because it had a rape scene. Two of my friends were well-built, but my other friend Ashok Jayaram and I were quite puny. So, we drew a moustache with a pencil and went there, but the manager instantly found out and drove us out!
I have seen my most favourite movie, Kadhalikka Neramillai, at least 30 times in Casino. I had finished my PUC and my friend Ashok and I were preparing for our IIT entrance exam, which was scheduled for the next day. But as fate would have it, we chanced upon an ad for Kadhalikka Neramillai, which was then playing at Venus Theatre in Perambur. We both cycled all the way from Egmore to Perambur to watch the film. Of course, we both flunked the IIT entrance exam. He then went to BITS Pilani, while I got into AC Tech. So, in a way, a movie theatre was responsible for me failing to get into IIT.
Seeing a movie in the theatre is the best experience. It is like watching a play live. Imagine watching Kadhalikka Neramillai and laughing along with the audience and watching it alone at home! The technology in theatres has gone to a different level, in terms of sound and visuals. So, a good movie should only be seen in a theatre. I hope theatres, both movie screens and auditoriums where plays are staged, come back to life quickly.