Hindi Cinema Mela

[Apolito Ghosh]

Weuse cookies to make our site work well for you and so we can continually improve it.

The cookies that are necessary to keep the site functioning are always on

Terms and conditions and Privacy Policy

The MAMI Mumbai Film Festival is organised by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) with an aim to present the best of cinema and foster a larger ecosystem for cinematic voices in South Asia. Every year, handpicked films from across genres are screened at the festival, where each film is carefully selected based on artistic merit, cultural diversity, and relevance to contemporary issues. Using immaculate programming, the festival showcases creative expressions that re-evaluate cinematic conventions and investigate non-narrative forms, including those that are underrepresented in mainstream cinema.

The MAMI Year Round Programme was started in 2016 and is a unique initiative by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) with the belief that it is not enough in an ecosystem like India to have just a week-long film festival. MAMI hosts regular screenings, masterclasses and conversations for film lovers in the country. This has given the Academy a year-long imprint and presence. Through this programme, passionate film lovers can sign up and get free access to the best and latest Indian and international films, series and talent throughout the year. The online extension, MAMI Year Round Programme Home Theatre, empowers filmmakers to bring their films to audiences directly.

Looking back, it was fortunate that Hemant Chaturvedi cut his visit short to the Kumbh Mela, a major Hindu festival and pilgrimage, in the north Indian city of Prayagraj (earlier known as Allahabad) in January 2019.

But by the 1980s and 90s, with the shift from cinema to television, and then the arrival of multiplexes, many gravitated to the comfort of modern amenities and technology, and single-screen cinemas began to see a decrease in audiences.

From roughly 9,700 single-screen cinemas in 2009, these numbers shrank further, to 6,300 in 2019, some converting to multiplexes, many closing due to financial problems and audience or owner disinterest. A few have preserved old equipment or memorabilia by showcasing it within a section of their cinemas, but beyond that, there has been little interest in preserving the heritage of these spaces.

A projectionist Chaturvedi met reminisced about the time before digital projectors, when 35mm machines would occasionally break down and he would scramble to fix the glitch while the audience yelled impatiently at him. He missed that connection, even in reproach, as audiences now forget that a digital projector is still operated by a person.

At a theatre in Maharashtra, the clay flooring and wooden seats untouched since 1942, the owner told Chaturvedi about his grandfather who went over budget when building the cinema, leaving funds for only one projector.

Today, India is the largest producer of films globally with pre-pandemic figures at approximately 2,000 films and one billion tickets sold annually. But when film exhibitions first came to India in the early 1900s, many were afraid of the moving pictures.

Dadasaheb Phalke, a friend of the Chumble family, and pioneer of Indian cinema who made the first full-length movie, Raja Harishchandra, screened a film on the site of Vijayanand Talkies in 1903. Cloth was strung over trees to create a makeshift theatre, but the townspeople, interpreting the moving pictures as sorcery, smashed the projector and tore away the fabric.

One of the most dramatic incidents that occurred at Vijayanand Talkies was in 1909 when the British collector of Nashik, AMT Jackson, was assassinated by Indian freedom fighter, Anant Kanhere. But even that incident did not deter audiences from continuing to visit.

Until the 1990s, when multiplexes opened in India, movie tickets could be bought for as little as 10 rupees in some cinemas. Like Vijayanand Talkies, some older single-screen cinemas running today still provide tickets between 50 rupees and 100 rupees. By contrast, multiplex ticket prices start at approximately 250 rupees (about $3.5).

Over the years, several single-screen cinemas have been upscaled or converted to steeper-priced multiplexes with modern furnishing, audio and visual systems, and revamped refreshment counters with a variety of global food and beverage choices that contrast with the formerly basic fare of samosas, popcorn and tea. But along with the decline of the old cinemas came the decline of their inclusive spirit, which used to unite everyone in one hall regardless of economic or social status.

Many of the old cinemas that remain are now shabby and rundown, frequented mainly by loyal patrons who enjoy the well-worn comfort of a space they have visited for years or by those who are looking for affordable B- and C- grade entertainment, or an escape in old reruns or seedier fare.

In conversations with cinema owners he met on his travels, Chaturvedi heard several reasons for the decline of these spaces, many of them financial, including high taxes and the decline of black marketeers.

With multiplexes and digital streaming platforms, a lot of content produced today caters to an urban audience with niche themes, many of them rooted in reality, while films for small towns or mass audiences, who are looking for an escape with lighter fare of romance, comedy, action and catchy music, are fewer.

Chaturvedi has photographed hundreds of the derelict structures, which he plans to feature as a book and exhibition about Indian cinematic history and the diverse narratives of the people who built them.

Background: ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc. (doing business as Star Cinema), is a Filipino film and television production company, a film distributor, and the country's largest film production company, founded in 1993. Although comparatively young, the company has produced some of the most acclaimed (and highest grossing) films in the history of Philippine cinema.

Logo: On a black/blue gradient background (similar to the VIVA and V. Rich logos), we see a spiked star much like the DiC 1987 logo. It moves to the right and the camera follows it to see the words "STAR CINEMA". The camera zooms out to reveal the full text as the star goes above it. When the camera settles, the star glows and transforms into a divided 14-side star. A ball of light then appears and brings up "PRODUCTIONS INC." below.

Logo: On a space background, a blue comet appears and forms a yellow curve. It shines and a star emerges from it, which emits light rays that move from left to right. The rays dissapear, making the star glow. The glass-like words "STAR CINEMA" appear, zoom out, rotate vertically for a bit (to face us) and place in front of the curve. The star glows more and the words also start to glow.

Logo: On a black/blue gradient background, we see a spark making the yellow curve from before while the camera follows it. Light streaks are seen surrounding it after 2 seconds. When it finishes, the spark flashes to form the star from before, while the words "STAR CINEMA" in yellow, "ABS" and "CBN", which are in translucent blue, zoom out and place themselves while emitting light rays. The ABS and CBN acronyms are moving to their normal positions to form the familiar name while the hyphen appears in between the two. The star glows, and "FILM PRODUCTIONS, INC" fades in below "ABS-CBN". A light flare appears on the star for a second.

Logo: On a black background with stars, an orange comet appears and starts to go faster to the middle of the screen, making a flash, which writes in the "STAR CINEMA" text in yellow. The 2000-2014 ABS-CBN wordmark in blue also writes in with the help of light rays, in a shadow wipe effect. The comet appears again, forming the curve, just like the 2nd logo, and makes the star appear when it finishes. The star shines brightly in yellow for a few seconds, while "FILM PRODUCTIONS, INC" fades in below "ABS-CBN", just like before.

Availability: Uncommon. It began appearing on most Star Cinema produced films starting with Otso-Otso Pamela-Mela Wan. Also often seen on collaborations with Viva Films, including Ang Cute ng Ina Mo, A Very Special Love and its sequel, You Changed My Life. Restored prints have the ABS-CBN Film Restoration logo and extra credits preceding it. It was last seen in My Amnesia Girl, released in November 2010.

Logo: It begins with the first second from the previous logo, but it looks different and the star starts to move around. It moves close to the center to become the star in the curve, while the curve starts drawing quickly. The "STAR CINEMA" and "ABS-CBN" texts fade in and glow, and later "FILM PRODUCTIONS, INC.". The curve shines and the background fades into a starfield.

Logo: On a starfield, we see a star, leaving a yellow trail, zooming to us. It then zooms out while swiveling to the left, and a strip of 35mm film moves around to stop it. The film appears again and the letters of "STAR CINEMA" (in Eurostile typeface), appear scrolling to the left while turning. It moves to the center and dissapears, then appears again when the letters are gone. The film starts forming a 0 on the star while another one comes and forms a 2, making the "20". "STAR CINEMA" fades in below the logo as the letters turn clockwise to face us, and "ABS-CBN FILM PRODUCTIONS, INC.", with "ABS-CBN" in its corporate font, also fades in below.

Availability: Very common. It can be found on prints by the company from one year before the new logo was introduced, including Four Sisters and a Wedding. Notice that many films made by them are Philippine box-office films, so this logo may be an easier find. It last appeared on Past Tense.

Editor's Note: Minimal, bordering on low, due to the star zooming to the screen and fanfare, and the logo result may not be a favorite for a few people who liked the previous one better, but it's fine.

Logo: On a space and cloud background, we see a gold star rotating and moving towards the left. A sun can be seen on the right of the screen. The star leaves sparks during the spinning. When it stops, a golden curve forms and flashes red light. Then, the silver words "STAR CINEMA" (in Akzidenz-Grotesk typeface) zoom out, tilted over the finished product. The white byline "AN ABS-CBN COMPANY" in Gotham typeface, with the horizontal ABS-CBN logo in between, fades in. The star on the curve glows orange for a few seconds before fading out.

3a8082e126