From Casablanca to Om Dar-B-Dar and everything in between, cult classic movies are making a comeback at select venues across the city
You know those secret societies that convene at a spot tucked away somewhere to accomplish a common purpose, whatever that might be? Well, a similar breed of societies or communities are coming up in the ‘burbs. These do not harbour goals of world domination but come together for the simple pleasure of watching a cult classic movie in its original widescreen version.
Older films, newer audience?
Friday nights in Mumbai either mean lounging at the best hangouts or catching the next (supposedly) must-watch flick at a multiplex. However, a growing number of people in Mumbai are reliving history through classic cinema. Saurabh Singh, the co-founder of 1018mb, a portal that calls itself an enabler bringing classic movies across genres to film buffs, invited me to a screening of the comedy film, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, best remembered for its famed, hilarious Mahabharata scene. As I walked into the tiny Firstlook Preview Theatre at Andheri (W), I saw film lovers engaged in hushed conversations, as they waited for the screening to begin. From youngsters with a penchant for classic cinema to old-timers who possibly do not have access to unique films such as Casablanca, Wizard of Oz (1939) or even Om Dar-B-Dar, called the best absurdist movie ever made, every age and gender was present in the audience. Jay Dhruv, a Mulund resident who writes about cinema and music at philmistani.in when he’s not busy with his day job, was seated next to me. When asked what brings people to such screenings, he says, “You get to watch the film on the big screen but you also get to meet like-minded people, who appreciate cinema on another level.”
Good cinema always wins!
The HIVE, an incubator for all things creative at Khar, recently held the screening of The Jungle Book (the 1967 film) for audiences that probably wanted to relive the simplicity of the older film, when compared to the newer in-your-face 3D version. “The first classic movie we screened was Faust, a 1926 silent film by FW Murnau,” says Sharin Bhatti, Co-Founder, The HIVE, “People are looking to watch good cinema. At any given point, you might be introduced to a movie that moves you somehow by either altering your perception or by offering you a new one. Film history and appreciation is one of the ways we are trying to educate and open up the minds of film enthusiasts towards all cinema. As a venue, we are constantly trying to source cinema that is interesting and good.” And how does the audience react to old-time films? “The audience reaction to classic movies is always good. They also leave suggestions of movies they’d like to see in future, all the time,” smiles Bhatti.
Upcoming screenings:
Casablanca – Firstlook Preview Theatre, Andheri (W)
Fire in Babylon - Sunny Super Sound, Juhu
Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda - NFDC Preview Screen, Worli
A Night at the Opera - G5A, Lower Parel
Visit www.1018mb.com or check out www.facebook.com/alivehive/ to get more details.
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 "The Mahabharata scene from Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro")
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