You may have seen the pioneering design of Regal Cinema, the majestic symmetry of Eros Cinema, the plush interiors of Liberty, and the international elegance of Metro. But what lies beyond the holy grail of south Mumbai’s Art Deco picture palaces? Tune in as our speaker Hemant Chaturvedi takes us on a voyage across India’s length and breadth, and challenge what you thought you knew about Art Deco cinemas!
Photographer and former cinematographer in the Mumbai film industry, Hemant set on an endless journey in 2019, travelling across 800 towns and driving 35,000 km alone in his jeep – all on a singular quest to document India’s rapidly vanishing single screen cinema history. He discovered some extraordinary Art Deco theatres in towns as disparate as Patiala, Allahabad, Kannur, Thrissur, and Madurai, to name only a few. This is a session illustrated with not only Hemant’s exceptional photographs, but also a rollercoaster ride of anecdotes, including the story of how he came to photograph 14 of W.M. Namjoshi’s 26 known works.
Following his talk, Hemant is joined in conversation by film critic Nandini Ramnath, as the two speakers discuss the merit in conserving these theatres, the expiration of a certain film viewing culture, and the madness that drove this passion project.
About the speakers:
Hemant Chaturvedi, an ace cinematographer in the Mumbai film business since 1985, worked on films like Ram Gopal Varma’s Company, Vishal Bhardwaj’s Makdee and Maqbool, and Aparna Sen’s 15 Park Avenue, to name only a few of his best known projects. In 2015, after filming 12 feature films and over 700 television commercials, Hemant gave up his successful career as a cinematographer, and returned to full-time still photography. As part of his photography oeuvre, he has been documenting old cinema theatres and British-era cemeteries.
Nandini Ramnath is currently the film editor at Scroll.in. She has been writing on film since 1998, starting out at The Indian Express, followed by stints at NDTV 24X7, Time Out Mumbai and Mint. In 2008, Nandini contributed a chapter on actress Smita Patil to the anthology Women In Indian Film (Zubaan Books). Her writing is known for her astute observations and a dedicated exploration of nuance.
