Opened in 1952, the 1,107-seater cinema has screened quite a few iconic movies, together with Mughal-E-Azam and Pakeezah. Yet it’s the Shah Rukh Khan–Kajol starrer Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge that has cemented its place in historical past with an unprecedented and record-breaking run since its launch on October 20, 1995.
During a non-public screening ten days earlier than the discharge of the movie, which marked the directorial debut of Yash Chopra’s son Aditya, Desai mentioned that he advised the late filmmaker — “Yeh lambi race ka ghoda hai” (it will take pleasure in a long term).
“I used to be determined to launch the film. It has every part in it. Great story, and Amrish Puri, Shah Rukh, and Kajol had been excellent for his or her respective roles. If the general public demand sustains, we’ll proceed to run the film within the theatre.
“At that point, I did not know that we’d run it in theatres this lengthy. Our managing director, Mr Arun Nahar had thought that for the reason that ticket charges are so low, it will likely be in our theatres for a very long time and it turned out to be true,” Desai advised PTI in an interview.
On a typical weekday, the theatre attracts round 70 to 100 viewers for the 11:30 am present, whereas the weekend attendance jumps to 200–300 enthusiastic followers. Tickets are priced at Rs 50 for the balcony and Rs 30 for the gown circle.
What makes DDLJ particular is its capability to resonate throughout varied demographics, mentioned Desai.
At Maratha Mandir, which is positioned only a brief distance from each Mumbai Central Railway Station and ST bus stand, folks come from completely different elements of the nation to look at the long-lasting movie.
“We’ve completely different set of audiences coming to look at it, they usually all take pleasure in watching DDLJ. Besides, they’ll afford a film at this fee,” he mentioned.
Desai witnessed the unimaginable attachment and love that audiences have for Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge a number of years in the past when the theatre put up a discover saying that the movie would cease screening after 1,000 weeks.
Instead of accepting it, many followers got here to the theatre to specific their disappointment. “There had been {couples} who requested me to take away the board. Ultimately, It’s the general public that makes a movie hit,” Desai mentioned.
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The movie has been performed on the theatre daily since its launch, apart from a quick hiatus of 4 months or so in the course of the pandemic that hit India in March 2020.
“We used to get telephone calls asking us to start out screening DDLJ as soon as COVID-19 was over. We all know the sort of movies launch at the moment however DDLJ is actually particular,” Desai recalled.
With its old-world appeal, comfy seating, and a spacious food-and-beverage space, the theatre presents a novel ambiance that retains patrons returning time and again.
The corridors, lined with pictures and trophies from quite a few movies, function a reminder of the wealthy historical past and enduring legacy of the cinema corridor.
“We do no matter we are able to to offer expertise by way of pricing and the atmosphere. All sorts of individuals come right here, most of them are {couples}, or those that have had evening shifts come right here and a few even sleep inside within the AC.
“I’ve change into pals with those that come right here usually and we share issues and generally meals with one another,” a employees member at Maratha Mandir, who has been working for over a decade, advised PTI.
Among the viewers, one will discover college students, workplace goers and even social media influencers re-watching Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge on the Maratha Mandir.
For Vijay, a 58-year-old taxi driver who comes to look at the film throughout his lunch break, the movie resonates on a deeply private degree.
“My father was nearly like Amrish Puri ji, me and my siblings would concern him lots as he was a disciplinarian however he had a coronary heart of gold, he did no matter he might for us. Whenever I see this movie, it jogs my memory of my father, he left us a number of years in the past,” the motive force advised PTI.
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For content material creator and humorist Pulkit Kochar, watching the movie is a surreal expertise, with its dialogues and songs etched into his reminiscence.
“I don’t have the rely of what number of instances I’ve seen DDLJ. This is the primary movie I watched after I used to be born, I’m precisely 30-year-old. So, it’s surreal to look at this romance which my mother and father noticed,” Kochar advised PTI.
A pair of their early 20s advised PTI, “This is my most and solely favorite love story. We didn’t know something about DDLJ or Shah Rukh or Kajol, however as soon as we pals got here right here final 12 months after faculty, we found this gem. We come right here usually to get immersed within the love and heat of Raj and Simran.”
A employees at Maratha Mandir expressed pleasure of seeing constant crowd, at a time when theatres significantly, single-screens are struggling to lure audiences. “Today, movies of huge stars aren’t doing properly in theatres. But we’re glad we’ve a movie right here which continues to attract folks daily. Our theatre will not be working empty on any day. People simply come to look at it as they’re in love with this movie,” the employees member advised PTI.
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