Hemant Chaturvedi /India
The Suspension of Disbelief A Still Photography Exploration of India’s Single Screen Cinema Heritage
I began this project by accident in 2019. Little did I know it would become the most extensive photo-documentation of India’s vanishing single screen cinema heritage ever attempted. And possibly the largest one worldwide. It was on a trip to Allahabad (now Prayagraj ) in Uttar Pradesh in January 2019, I was there to attend the Kumbha Mela. One afternoon, I gave the Mela a miss and went for a stroll towards Allahabad University. I suddenly came upon a familiar old single screen cinema from the late 1940s. I had some fond memories of it from the 1970s/1980s, Laxmi Talkies had been a popular cinema theatre in that era. It was locked, and upon inquiry with the local shops, I was told it had shut in 1990 or so. I tracked down the owner and he graciously had it opened for me, and gave me full access with my cameras. One thing led to another, and I photographed another 3 old “talkies” on that trip. Upon my return to Mumbai, while browsing through the images, and thinking of my conversations with the owners and staff, I sat down and did some research. I discovered India’s single screen cinemas had dwindled from 24,000 in 1990 to less than 9000 in 2019. I decided to photograph a few, just as a nostalgic documentation of a past era of public entertainment spaces. However, one thing led to another, and the fear of missing out on some critical and historic space, led me on an incredible journey. The statistics after 5 years are quite incredible. I have driven, alone in my jeep, in excess of 50,000km through 22 Indian states, visiting over 950 towns. And I have photographed over 1150 single screen cinema theatres at the time of writing this. Because of my Cinematography background, these old cinema theatres were familiar and intimate spaces for me. My emotional attachment to the subject encouraged it to be a very expansive photography expedition, and I have chosen to document this experience with tremendous detail. I have photographed these cinema theatres inside and out, as this brief presentation will make apparent. There is much much more that I would have liked to include here...however this selection is a good introduction to the scale and scope of this project. And I should save the rest for the book!
Curator’s statement:
Cinema has been a vital component of Indian entertainment, as the nation produces one of the largest number of films globally. In 1907, the first Indian single screen appeared in Kolkata, and as it expanded throughout the country, each became a significant local landmark. These cinemas have seen the frenzied Indian moviegoers, who were free to participate by applauding, whistling, and dancing to the music. These single screens opened their arms to people from any walk of life who could go to relax and enjoy entertainment that was larger than life. The transition began gradually at the end of the 1990s, when this customary cinema watching was replaced by contemporary present day multiplexes. Hemant Chaturvedi, a former cinematographer and presently a photographer, began examining the topic of cinema from a different perspective by investigating the deserted single-screen theatres that once stood tall but now only serve as a reminder of its opulence and heyday. Despite the fact that these movie theaters are now highly delapitated, Hemant has been able to preserve the vivid colours, providing the audience with a peek into this fascinating past through these strikingly graphic images. Hemant, who has spent the last 5 years travelling all across the country, is in the process of leaving behind a unique record of a history that many future generations will treasure—possibly only through these photographs—as the traces of this predominant history gradually disappear.
©Sandeep Biswas
Hemant Chaturvedi spent over 30 years working as a cinematographer in Mumbai, before moving away from that profession in 2015. His cinematography credits include films like Company, Makdee, Maqbool, 15 Park Avenue, Ishaqzaade, Kurbaan, Brothers, and even an animation film called Arjun The Warrior Prince. He returned to full time still photography and only works on his own projects. Which range from Dhrupad Gurukuls, his project for the sesquicentennial of his Alma Mater, St.Xavier’s College Mumbai, to the photo documentation of India’s single screen cinema heritage, documenting old British era cemeteries, Zoroastrian Aram Gahs, abandoned Hindu idols etc. The Single Screen Cinemas Project is the largest photo-documentation ever attempted on a subject like this anywhere in the world. Hemant has driven over 50,000km alone in his jeep, and after visiting 22 states and over 950 towns, he has photographed over 1150 single screen cinema theatres. His other significant project, a documentary film called “Chhayaankan-The Management of Shadows” is his tribute to his cinematography peers, and an attempt to introduce the human element in a very challenging profession. Hemant is 56, and lives in Mumbai.
