The good old Chanakya cinema, long reduced to dust, was a sought after destination for discerning film fans because much before multiplexes arrived with variety, the theatre quietly offered its patrons a nice blend of Hollywood and Hindi cinema in four shows. There were times when it would show a top notch English film in all four shows like its competitors Priya and Archana in South Delhi. Centrally located, it was close to many embassies and high commissions and was seen by diplomats and their families as an entertainment destination.
At the entrance of standalone theatre, one was greeted by a robust bike or fashion paraphernalia which in 1980s was tempting for teenagers. Secondly, its fresh burger, crispy butter filled popcorns, colas served in extra long plastic glass were eagerly looked forward to during intervals.
Chanakya Theatre as it existed earlier
It had gleaming red carpet and there was pin drop silence as soon as the film was screened. If anyone talked then he would be shown the door by security in-charge. Before every show, the affable manager, Mr. Sethi, would be inundated by film addicts who would beseech him to ‘arrange’ a ticket or two in a housefull show. Clint Eastwood’s movies like The Pale Rider , Roger Moore’s James Bond flicks like Octopussy and Bruce Lee’s Enter The Dragon were films which school students would eagerly watch. Never mind that they were underage or had to purchase tickets in black. And who can forget Blue Lagoon, which had a fairly long run at Chanakya.
Student’s choice
It was a preferred choice of college students because the DTC’s night service buses ran past this hall and took them to the North Campus. Designer Payal Jain says she would frequent the cinema hall almost every week. “It was just a five minute drive from my Jesus and Mary College. In the first year of my college, I had gone to watch Julia Roberts’ Pretty Woman but only 18 year olds were being let in. I was smuggled in by my college friends.”
It was equally popular for showing Hindi blockbusters right from its inception when it opened in 1970 with Mera Naam Joker . Designer Harpreet Narula recalls, “After finishing our last year of graduation from The Hindu College, we went to Chanakya to watch Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge . It was such a fantastic place. During interval we would watch colour pictures and posters of famous Hollywood films. It was such a big thing then. Tibetan food was a big attraction as we would get to eat everything right from thukpa to momos.”
It was also a popular destination for film critics.
Late Anil Saari, who was also a food critic, would enjoy coming to watch movies at Chanakya as he would get to wolf down momos which had just started being served in the now bustling Yashwant Place market.
Recounting a hilarious experience, B.B. Nagpal, veteran film critic, says: “Once I had gone to Mira Nair’s Kamasutra and was astonished to see street urchins in shorts coming in big numbers. They told me that the English version had more explicit scenes, whereas in the Hindi one quite a few scenes had been deleted. As you know, this was not the case, but this perception lasted for a long time.”
During its last days, Chanakya lost its gleam. Its carpet was tattered and people would complain that it was not the same theatre any more. Proprietors could not spend money as after the lease had expired, the NDMC wanted to take over the theatre to convert it into a multiplex. The shutters came down rather proverbially with Taare Zameen Par.
As Chanakya gets a new identity with audience lining up to book tickets for Kingsman: The Golden Circle , one wonders whether it has joined the league of sanitised centres of entertainment which churn out film shows with mechanical precision but lack individual character.
Outside, good old Sanjay Malhotra, who runs Chimney Sizzlers, looks pleased. “When Chanakya existed, a class of film fans would come to Yashwant Place to eat momos. That kind of clientèle had stopped coming. Hopefully, now when films would be screened we would attract more customers.”
Recreating Chanakya
Describing Chanakya as an iconic cinema, Ajay Bijli, chairman and managing director PVR Limited, said: “Chanakya was associated with cherished memories for generations of Delhiites. With the launch of our first ECX (Enhanced Cinema Experience) multiplex in the city, we have reached a milestone of 600 screens.” The multiplex is inside The Chanakya Mall developed by DLF group. It has been built under public-private partnership model with NDMC. In its new incarnation, PVR ECX is sporting 4k projection system, 3D enabled screens with ultra HD picture and Dolby surround system. It also offers Quick Tix, digital ticketing solution to promote cashless transactions.
Bijli added: “We have grown up nostalgically on Chanakya; we all know what it looked like, with its big screen but it is difficult to fill in 1200 seats in this day and age with so many films releasing. Multiplex is important to give variety. So we had to build the new cinema.”
