CALICUT – CINEMA ZONES

Watching cinema in the theater is an activity by itself. In these days of pirated Cd's and DVD's the fun factor is restricted and limited. Gone are the days when there was a process involved in this act. I remember that I used to coax n cajole my parents to take us (me and bro) for a movie. In Calicut the cinema hall which we used to frequent was the Blue Diamond. Sadly, last time when I was passing through Mavoor Road I saw that Blue Diamond is no more there. A shopping mall is being constructed there.

The thousand memories of families in debris

Everything stirred by the greed for a few pennies

We used to have lovely dinner at Hotel Paris and move towards the theater. One of the last movies which we as family watched there was – Manichitrathazhu. Then I and brother watched a movie named – Summer in Bethlehem. That's it. I owe a lot to Crown theater which near the Town hall for kindling in me a taste for Hollywood cinema. The theater in the pre-independent era was used by the British as a ball-dance room. I don't exactly remember the number of movies that I have watched there. From 007 to Species, From Jurassic Park to Titanic…

The theater was more like a second home to me. I used to be a regular visitor for the first show which began at 6:30 pm. In one way the same theater created in me an interest for English songs. I think they have the best acoustics and any song played inside the hall was a treat to our ears. Crown still stands fresh in my mind for a person. If I remember correctly - his name was Govindan Kutty. When I saw him first he was something 60 years old. He even figured in the newspapers as a person who makes Calicut special by bringing the spirit called – Calicut-ism. (To be continued)