THE END

 

Curtains come down at the iconic Lakshmi Talkies in Mysore on Friday, seven decades after it opened on 15^th April 1949. For all those associated with this iconic landmark, the closure of the theatre is an emotional moment and painful development.

 

Known as the common man’s theatre, ‘Lakshmi’ has served the middle class population of the city with pocket-friendly ticket pricing, pleasant ambience, affordable snack and beverage and minimal vehicle parking charges for more than five decades now. It is the legacy of  elders that the present generation  has carried forward.Being family-owned, the establishment has moved along with a sense of prestige and that typical ‘Film business’ addiction.

Lakshmi Talkies holds a special place in the hearts of Mysoreans. Situated in the heart of the city, the area Bus stop on chamaraja double Road even got its name 'Lakshmi Talkies stop ’' due to the location of  the popular theatre.

Several film world  luminaries including Dr Rajkumar, Dr Vishnuvardhan, Ambarish, Shankar Nag, Darshan,Dwarkish,Kalpana,Manjula,Jayanthi,Aarathi,Famous directors Puttanna Kangal,K Backhander  and other eminent persons like Late Devraj Urs, former CMs of Tamil Nadu Karunanidhi, MGR,and Jayalitha and many others  have  visited the theatre.

 The theatre has a history of more than 70 years. A much preferred theatre for Fans of regional cinema, it remained a favorite of some of the most prestigious Production Houses over the years.

Sadly the closure of Lakshmi Talkies comes in the wake of a spate of other Closures in the Heritage city of Mysore

 Hopes that people would flock the theatres after a year long break forced by the Corona Virus, were dashed .It did not turn out that way.The occupancy was miserably low.

 

The most conservative cinema houses across Karnataka spend a minimum of  ₹3 lakh per month on staff salaries, fixed electricity and maintenance charges that the government doesn’t  feel fit to be waived or subsidized even amid zero earnings.

The hall was even refurbished  and restructured  to keep it going. But it did not work . Savings have been liquidated to continue paying salaries, expenses cut down to make ends meet, even personal assets mortgaged to raise funds. But uncertainty threatened the establishment’s future. The signs were ominous.The single screen sector would soon go  “on ventilator" and to keep going on would be a huge risk.

 Almost every month over the past couple of years one or the other single screen theatre has pulled down its shutters

 

So , closing down was the best available option.especially for the sake of employees whose  dues need to be cleared .Once relieved they will be in a position to look for better jobs.

 

 It hurts to see this first generation single screen cinema consigned to oblivion.

.A theatre is not just brick, steel, wood, mortar or Box Office, Vinyl Banners, silver screen, and chips counters. It harbors within  itself, a small unique world of its own – the hawkers, the men at the ticket counters, the projectionists, the ushers, the torn  seats,endless queue of boisterous ticket seekers, and the very poor people- men, women and children who  mill around outside  the theatre premises for  alms.

 

Though single screen theatres cannot match the glamour of multiplexes. much of the audience that now  watch films on OTT platforms, either free of cost or by subscription will ultimately stop going to the theatres, so it doesn’t matter that they cannot watch  films on the large screen. The unique experience of movie-watching on big screen will be lost to the future generations.

 

Covid  has served a harsh reminder that everything.around us is fickle and that leaves a quirky feeling. But memories will remain -- for sharing and discussing about  the Heritage & traditions that are being squandered away  everyday.