Tucked in a corner of Fort, Sterling Cineplex, which opened its doors to cinema goers in 1969, has completed 50 years. The theatre was the first to introduce Dolby Surround Sound and Xenon Projection Systems to enhance the movie-watching experience.
“Sterling Cineplex, the first in Mumbai, and perhaps India’s first to present THX Certified Cinema, was designed to recreate the acoustics and ambience of a movie studio,” Kaizad Mistry, director partner of the theatre, said.
“I remember, there was a time in the late ’90s or early 2000s, when English films were not widely released in Mumbai, Sterling started a late-night show called le crème de la crème . This was a 10.45 p.m. slot, which used to show the best of contemporary Hollywood releases. I vividly recall seeing The Usual Suspects (1995), Cast Away (2000), The Object of My Affection (1998), Seven (1995), and other such films which catered to niche audiences,” Prashant Rao, a regular visitor at Sterling, said.
Keeping up with the changing times, the once single-screen cinema hall has today been revamped into a three-screen multiplex.
“Sterling is part of the city’s cinematic history. There were always eateries around, and plenty of black and yellow cabs to take you back home late at night. Mumbaikars of a certain vintage have watched the best of Hollywood at Sterling. I miss the old single-screen cinema hall though,” 52-year-old cinema-goer Gina Vaid said.
