Movie Town Pune – A Trip Down Memory Lane

I love to watch old English Films.

Nowadays – I cannot easily do so.

Multiplexes do not show old movies. 

And – TCM – the only TV channel in India that showed English old classic movies has disappeared a few years ago from Indian DTH channels. 

This reminded me of the good old days – when cinema halls in Pune had an afternoon show (called “Matinee” in Pune) in which old classic English Films were exhibited. 

Here is a trip down memory lane – a piece from the series of articles “A Punekar Walks Down Memory Lane” I wrote for a magazine a few years ago...

PUNE – A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE 

MOVIE TOWN PUNE

Musings

By

VIKRAM KARVE

In the 1960s and 1970s, Pune was a lovely place to live in. Pune is known as The Queen of the Deccan and was truly a beautiful city with a salubrious climate and a laid-back relaxed lifestyle and that is why it was considered a “pensioners’ paradise”.

Pune was the birthplace of the Indian Film Industry at Prabhat Studio (where The Film and Television Institute or FTII are located now), and it is probably due to Pune’s Cinematic Heritage that The National Film Archives of India or NFAI is located here) and maybe that is why Pune had a large number of cinema theatres to cater to the finer appetites of Punekars who loved theatre and cinema and the fine arts.

They say, that at one time, in India, only Mumbai had more cinema theatres than Pune. Cinema Theatres added the word “Talkies” after their names and most of these “single-screen” movie halls (as they are derisively called now) have disappeared, or are in quite a dilapidated condition, struggling to make ends meet, and some are on the verge of shutting down.

Now, with the proliferation of multiplexes, Pune is like any other faceless metropolis, and, probably, most of today’s young and restless avid moviegoers, who throng the multiplexes for a movie and a good time, hardly know anything about the cinematic heritage of Pune. 

By the way, I too love the multiplex experience but I also cherish nostalgic memories of those “good old days” so let me walk you down memory lane and tell you about it.

The first film I probably saw was The Guns of Navarone (1961) and I think I saw it at ALAKA which exhibited English Movies. I still remember the long queues at Alaka for this super-hit movie.

WEST END in Pune Camp, famous for its Soda Fountain and reclining chairs in the balcony, also exclusively showed English Movies, and so did the nearby NEW EMPIRE and HINDVIJAY at Deccan Gymkhana.

In Alaka, West End, New Empire and Hindvijay we saw a lot of those ageless action-packed Westerns like The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966), Mackenna's Gold (1969) and numerous John Wayne movies, of which Hatari (1962) is my all time favourite and, of course, classics like MY FAIR LADY (1964) and THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965).

Later, ALAKA would screen the inimitable Dada Kondke Marathi blockbusters which celebrated golden jubilees and HINDVIJAY would have a 70 MM screen showing the latest Hollywood blockbusters. 

But, I remember seeing Pakeezah (1972) at HINDVIJAY too. 

Opposite the Bus Depot, next to Poona Coffee House, where KFC is now, was DECCAN where I saw many films, including Jewel Thief (1967) wearing a “jewel thief cap” which was a rage then.

Another film I clearly remember seeing was Dosti (1964) at MINERVA near Mandai. 

I was in the 4^th standard, and there was a special show for our school, then I saw it again with my grandmother. 

Dosti ran for 25 weeks in Pune (maybe a Golden jubilee of 50 weeks in Mumbai) and the silver jubilee was celebrated with a band playing the film’s popular songs outside Minerva Theatre.

Near Minerva was ARYAN. 

Aryan was the oldest cinema in Pune (maybe in India too) and I remember seeing morning shows of Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy comedies, though Aryan exhibited Marathi films in its regular shows. 

Also near Mandai towards Budhwar Peth was GLOBE (later renovated, air-conditioned and renamed SHREENATH) and further down was VIJAYANAND which showed English movies at the 1 o’clock afternoon matinee show and Marathi films in regular shows.

Most of the cinemas were located either on (or slightly off) Laxmi Road. 

If you walked down from Alaka Chowk towards camp, you first had VIJAY on your left, then BHANUVILAS in the next lane to your left, some more distance ahead if you turned towards Appa Balwant Chowk side you had PRABHAT, PARAMOUNT (RATAN) and VASANT. 

I remember seeing many great Marathi films like Paathlag, Jaga Chya Pathivar and Amhi Jato Amucha Gavi in the 1060s with my grandparents in these cinemas.

Though PRABHAT used to screen Marathi films, I remember seeing Aradhana (1969), since I had to run all the way to our place on Tilak Road to get my granny’s specs which she had forgotten 

Yes, as a young boy I was physically fit. 

And, by the way, we cycled all over Pune, including for movies, and all the cinema theatres had robust cycle stands where we would park our cycles safely.

Ahead, opposite City Post Office, there was SRIKRISHNA, and behind at the end of the lane called Dane Ali opposite GLOBE, was  VIJAYANAND, which was “out of bounds” as it was in the red light area or bakaal vasti, as my grandmother put it. 

On the other side of Laxmi Road, quite far away, on the way to the railway station, towards KEM Hospital in Rasta Peth, there was APOLLO (the first air-conditioned cinema in Pune) which had no balcony.

And as you walked on Laxmi Road towards Quarter Gate, to the right was ALPANA Talkies.

In Pune Camp there were CAPITOL (now called VICTORY), NISHAT and LIBERTY. 

There was JAIHIND at Khadki (then called Kirkee) and across the Bund Garden bridge towards Yerawada, famous for its Jail, was GUNJAN, but then we never ventured that far, as hardly anyone lived across the river on Nagar Road, and with the prison and mental hospital at Yerawada, across the river was considered a dangerous place.

Then came the advent of 70 MM and we had ALANKAR (near Pune Railway Station), RAHUL (in Shivajinagar), NATRAJ (in place of HINDVIJAY), SONMARG (Timber Market), APSARA (Gultekdi) , MANGALA (opposite PMC), NILAYAM (behind Peshwe Park) and LAXMINARAYAN (near Swargate). 

I remember seeing PATTON (1970) with my grandfather in glorious 70 MM at Rahul, where I now go to eat seafood at the restaurant rather than see a movie.

Now the multiplexes culture has taken over and you forget a movie the moment you finish seeing it. 

In fact, “multiplex movies” are designed to make their money over the weekend – it seems that the sole aim is to make money and not to produce memorable films which create a lasting impression in the viewers’ minds. 

But let me tell you, I too love the multiplex experience – the atmosphere, the food, the everything. 

One has to change with times.

I don’t like to live in the past and brood over “the good old days” – but there is no harm in harking back to the past once in a while to evoke delightful memories of the “good old days”. 

That is why I have written this. 

I enjoyed writing this – I hope you enjoyed reading it too. 

Do let me know and I will tell some more about my “good old days” in Pune. 

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

This story is a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in this story are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

This a revised and abridged version of my story MOVIE TOWN PUNE written by me around 6 years ago in the year 2010 and earlier posted online by me on my blogs a number of times including at urls: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/08/movie-town-pune-punekar-walks-down.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/12/pune-trip-down-memory-lane-part-3-movie.html  and  https://www.quora.com/profile/Vikram-Karve/Writing-by-VIKRAM-KARVE/PUNE-of-Yesteryear?srid=5Hkq&share=1 and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/06/pune-nostalgic-memories-movie-town-pune.html etc

GUDHI PADWA THOUGHTS - GOOD MORNING

GUDHI PADWA THOUGHTS - GOOD MORNING
A MORNING PRAYER TO SEIZE THE DAY
By
VIKRAM KARVE


Good Morning – Dear Reader.

Today is Gudhi Padwa – the first day of the Marathi Calendar – the beginning of the Maharashtrian New Year.

I woke up early – around 5 in the morning – and went out for a pre-dawn walk.

While on my walk – I remembered this article I had written a few years ago.

Ever since I remember – I begin my day with a small prayer of gratitude to Mother Earth.

I did so today too.

Wish you a Happy Gudhi Padwa.

Read on – Carpe Diem – Sieze the Day – the Year – and all days of your life.

BEGIN YOUR DAY WITH A PRAYER OF GRATITUDE TO MOTHER EARTH

Karaagre Vasate Lakshmi Karamadhye Saraswati 

कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मिः करमध्ये सरस्वति । 

Every morning, the moment I wake up at dawn, I open my eyes, put the two palms of my hand together, look at them and recite my Morning Shloka – this prayer was taught to me by my late maternal grandmother when I was a small boy.

Then, after reciting my morning prayer, I close my eyes, place the palms of my hands on my eyes and continue to lie down in bed and think about what I am going to do during the day. 

After a few moments, I move my hands all over my body to warm up and pep up my circulation, energize myself, and then I  get up, say Carpe Diem – and, yes, I seize the day and make the most of it.

Here is the morning prayer:

Karaagre Vasate Lakshmi Karamadhye Saraswati

कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मिः करमध्ये सरस्वति ।

Just click below and hear this meaningful and melodious prayer (it is very short - just 2 minutes). 

The Sanskrit prayer, the English Transliteration and the meaning in English are given below too. 

Dear Reader, first click the song below and hear this short prayer.

(After hearing the prayer please read the meaning of the prayer and my views)

कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मिः करमध्ये सरस्वति ।

करमूले तु गोविन्दः प्रभाते करदर्शनम् ॥

समुद्र-वसने देवि, पर्वत-स्तन-मंडिते ।

विष्णु-पत्नि नमस्तुभ्यं, पाद-स्पर्शं क्षमस्व मे ॥

Karaagre Vasate Lakshmi Karamadhye Saraswati,

Karamuule Tu Govinda Prabhaate Karadarshanam,

Samudravasane Devi Parvatastanamandale,

Vishhnupatni Namastubhyam Paadasparsham Kshamasva Me

Meaning of the Shloka in English

The front part of the hands (the finger tips) is credited to Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth. 

The middle part or palm is credited to Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning.

The Root of the hand (the part of hand near the wrist) to Govinda (the name of  Lord Krishna, an avatar of God Vishnu). 

So, every morning, one should have a reverent look at one's hand which represents sincere labour. 

I bow to Mother Earth, who has mountains and jungles on her body and whose clothing is made by the ocean. 

The wife of Lord Vishnu, please pardon me for touching you with my feet.

RISE AND SHINE

HOW TO WAKE UP IN THE MORNING

Never use an alarm clock which wakes you up in a disturbing manner.

Get up naturally and gradually open your eyes. 

And then as sleep goes away and you slowly come to your senses, just hold your palms above you, look at them and say this morning prayer (or any inspiring thought you like). 

After this short prayer of paying obeisance to the Goddesses Laxmi and Saraswati and God Vishnu and expressing gratitude to Mother Earth, you must close your eyes, place the palms of your hands on your eyes and continue to lie down in bed for a few moments thinking about what you are going to do during the day. 

This palming is good for your eyes too and gives you a sense of inner peace. 

So just close your eyes, place your palms on your eyes, and contemplate about the day ahead. 

(Do not think about yesterday or about tomorrow, just focus on today). 

Then after a few moments, move your hands all over your body to pep up your circulation, energize yourself, and then get up, say to yourself Carpe Diem – and, yes, you will seize the day and make the most of it.

If your day begins well the rest of the day will be good. 

Yes, a good morning makes a good day.

As they say: well begun is half done.

More importantly, this helps you live one day at a time.

I try my best to live one day at a time. 

For me every morning is a new day, a new life

So I try my best to make the most of it - yes, I make the most of the present day.

Then I hit the bed and go to sleep, forget about the day which is over and gone forever and wake up to another fresh new day. 

And when I wake up, I say my morning prayer, get into a positive mood, and Carpe Diem - I seize the new day.

Remember, the manner in which you wake up in the morning decides the quality of your day. 

So, Dear Reader, wish you a very Happy Gudhi Padwa and, in the year ahead, do wake up well.

Have a great day today.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

1. This is the way I begin my day. You can begin the day in the way it suits you best and as per your beliefs.

2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the story are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

This Article Earlier Posted by me Vikram Karve at 9/13/2012 10:59:00 AM in this blog at url :  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/09/carpe-diem-seize-day-first-thing-in.html

PUNE – A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE Part 3 – MOVIE TOWN PUNE

PUNE – A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

Part 3

Continued From:

Part 1 - Walking Down Main Street in Yesteryear Pune:

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/12/pune-trip-down-memory-lane-part-1.html

and

Part 2 - TEA TOWN PUNE

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/12/pune-trip-down-memory-lane-part-2-tea.html

PUNE – A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE –  Part 3

MOVIE TOWN PUNE

Musings

By

VIKRAM KARVE

In the 1960s and 1970s, Pune was a lovely place to live in. Pune is known as The Queen of the Deccan and was truly a beautiful city with a salubrious climate and a laid-back relaxed lifestyle and that is why it was considered a “pensioners’ paradise”.

Pune was the birthplace of the Indian Film Industry at Prabhat Studio (where The Film and Television Institute or FTII are located now), and it is probably due to Pune’s Cinematic Heritage that The National Film Archives of India or NFAI is located here) and maybe that is why Pune had a large number of cinema theatres to cater to the finer appetites of Punekars who loved theatre and cinema and the fine arts.

They say, that at one time, in India, only Mumbai had more cinema theatres than Pune. Cinema Theatres added the word “Talkies” after their names and most of these “single-screen” movie halls (as they are derisively called now) have disappeared, or are in quite a dilapidated condition, struggling to make ends meet, and some are on the verge of shutting down.

Now, with the proliferation of multiplexes, Pune is like any other faceless metropolis, and, probably, most of today’s young and restless avid moviegoers, who throng the multiplexes for a movie and a good time, hardly know anything about the cinematic heritage of Pune. 

By the way, I too love the multiplex experience but I also cherish nostalgic memories of those “good old days” so let me walk you down memory lane and tell you about it.

The first film I probably saw was The Guns of Navarone (1961) and I think I saw it at ALAKA which exhibited English Movies. I still remember the long queues at Alaka for this super-hit movie.

WEST END in Pune Camp, famous for its Soda Fountain and reclining chairs in the balcony, also exclusively showed English Movies, and so did the nearby NEW EMPIRE and HINDVIJAY at Deccan Gymkhana.

In Alaka, West End, New Empire and Hindvijay we saw a lot of those ageless action-packed Westerns like The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966), Mackenna's Gold (1969) and numerous John Wayne movies, of which Hatari (1962) is my all time favourite and, of course, classics like MY FAIR LADY (1964) and THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965).

Later, ALAKA would screen the inimitable Dada Kondke Marathi blockbusters which celebrated golden jubilees and HINDVIJAY would have a 70 MM screen showing the latest Hollywood blockbusters. 

But, I remember seeing Pakeezah (1972) at HINDVIJAY too. 

Opposite the Bus Depot, next to Poona Coffee House, where KFC is now, was DECCAN where I saw many films, including Jewel Thief (1967) wearing a “jewel thief cap” which was a rage then.

Another film I clearly remember seeing was Dosti (1964) at MINERVA near Mandai. 

I was in the 4^th standard, and there was a special show for our school, then I saw it again with my grandmother. 

Dosti ran for 25 weeks in Pune (maybe a Golden jubilee of 50 weeks in Mumbai) and the silver jubilee was celebrated with a band playing the film’s popular songs outside Minerva Theatre.

Near Minerva was ARYAN. 

Aryan was the oldest cinema in Pune (maybe in India too) and I remember seeing morning shows of Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy comedies, though Aryan exhibited Marathi films in its regular shows. 

Also near Mandai towards Budhwar Peth was GLOBE (later renovated, air-conditioned and renamed SHREENATH) and further down was VIJAYANAND which showed English movies at the 1 o’clock afternoon matinee show and Marathi films in regular shows.

Most of the cinemas were located either on (or slightly off) Laxmi Road. 

If you walked down from Alaka Chowk towards camp, you first had VIJAY on your left, then BHANUVILAS in the next lane to your left, some more distance ahead if you turned towards Appa Balwant Chowk side you had PRABHAT, PARAMOUNT (RATAN) and VASANT. 

I remember seeing many great Marathi films like Paathlag, Jaga Chya Pathivar and Amhi Jato Amucha Gavi in the 1060s with my grandparents in these cinemas.

Though PRABHAT used to screen Marathi films, I remember seeing Aradhana (1969), since I had to run all the way to our place on Tilak Road to get my granny’s specs which she had forgotten 

Yes, as a young boy I was physically fit. 

And, by the way, we cycled all over Pune, including for movies, and all the cinema theatres had robust cycle stands where we would park our cycles safely.

Ahead, opposite City Post Office, there was SRIKRISHNA, and behind at the end of the lane called Dane Ali opposite GLOBE, was  VIJAYANAND, which was “out of bounds” as it was in the red light area or bakaal vasti, as my grandmother put it. 

On the other side of Laxmi Road, quite far away, on the way to the railway station, towards KEM Hospital in Rasta Peth, there was APOLLO (the first air-conditioned cinema in Pune) which had no balcony.

And as you walked on Laxmi Road towards Quarter Gate, to the right was ALPANA Talkies.

In Pune Camp there were CAPITOL (now called VICTORY), NISHAT and LIBERTY. 

There was JAIHIND at Khadki (then called Kirkee) and across the Bund Garden bridge towards Yerawada, famous for its Jail, was GUNJAN, but then we never ventured that far, as hardly anyone lived across the river on Nagar Road, and with the prison and mental hospital at Yerawada, across the river was considered a dangerous place.

Then came the advent of 70 MM and we had ALANKAR (near Pune Railway Station), RAHUL (in Shivajinagar), NATRAJ (in place of HINDVIJAY), SONMARG (Timber Market), APSARA (Gultekdi) , MANGALA (opposite PMC), NILAYAM (behind Peshwe Park) and LAXMINARAYAN (near Swargate). 

I remember seeing PATTON (1970) with my grandfather in glorious 70 MM at Rahul, where I now go to eat seafood at the restaurant rather than see a movie.

Now the multiplexes culture has taken over and you forget a movie the moment you finish seeing it. 

In fact, “multiplex movies” are designed to make their money over the weekend – it seems that the sole aim is to make money and not to produce memorable films which create a lasting impression in the viewers’ minds. 

But let me tell you, I too love the multiplex experience – the atmosphere, the food, the everything. 

One has to change with times.

I don’t like to live in the past and brood over “the good old days” – but there is no harm in harking back to the past once in a while to evoke delightful memories of the “good old days”. 

That is why I have written this. 

I enjoyed writing this – I hope you enjoyed reading it too. 

Do let me know and I will tell some more about my “good old days” in Pune.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 

Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work. 

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

NB

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (All Rights Reserved)

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Did you like this article?  

I am sure you will like the 27 short stories from my recently published anthology of Short Fiction COCKTAIL
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COCKTAIL ebook

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If your are a Foodie I am sure that you will like my book of Food Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9mr2o

About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional  and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
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Email: vikramkarve@hotmail.com

Twitter: @vikramkarve

      

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.