Elgin movie theatre- workers' interviews
Director: Gaurav Chandelya; Cinematographer: Gaurav Chandelya
Duration: 00:22:34; Aspect Ratio: 1.333:1; Hue: 183.524; Saturation: 0.063; Lightness: 0.361; Volume: 0.373; Cuts per Minute: 5.849; Words per Minute: 192.479
Summary: Footage from WICITYTV, which was a pirate cable TV channel that ran in Shivaji Nagar, Bangalore in November 2005. Elgin Talkies is a 116-year-old decrepit cinema house in Shivaji Nagar that still uses carbon arc projectors. Older than cinema itself, it was first a playhouse, and its logbook catalogues a veritable history of early cinema from silent films to the screening of India’s first talkie, Alam Ara. Gaurav Chandelya spent 48 hours inside Elgin, clocking the daily films and changes. The film,
Kahani Elgin Ki was aired on local cable.
Camera shows a sweeper and the canteen worker of Elgin Cinema. The Canteen Worker (CW) demonstrates playfully to the camera person Gaurav(G), how a pocket is picked.
? dialogues in Kannada?
(hindi)
Canteen worker(CW) - Saw that? It is a good shot! He is picking the pocket and then getting caught..(laughs)
G - here, do pockets get picked often?
CW - huh?
G - here does it ever happen that pockets....
CW - sometimes it does, during Eid. During our festival Eid, it happens. At that time, ?.........? they come, stand in queues, and pick peoples pockets. During our Eid, the ?theater is full?.
eid
festivals
pick pocketing
queues
thieves
Bangalore
actors
actress
ambitions
ancient
bangalore
canteen
carbon-arc projectors
cinema
class
difference
dreams
food
hindi
income
lifestyle
movie buffs
old
shivaji nagar
shops
staff
status
theater
wages
Cam pans up to show an old canteen and two men standing at the counter, with a few shelves containing some packets of chips and cold-drinks behind them, talking to a Canteen Worker of Elgin Cinema behind camera. The camera person Gaurav (G) , begins interviewing one of the workers - Jayant (J)
(in hindi)
G - what is your name?
Man- ?jayant?
G- jayant?
J- yes..
G - what do you do here?
J:(answering the person behind camera) yes..
G- is this your canteen?
J:- yes, mine, its is my brothers'.
G - OK, then...how much ... I mean, when is it the most... I mean, how does your business function?
J: - it's going on, the audience, is a bit less, some don't like coming here. The poor, mostly, come to this theater....its an old theater...that is why some of the rich don't come here, also, the high-class don't come. this is a good auditorium for the low-class people. Its good.
business
canteen
chips
cold drinks
economic classes
high-class
low-class
old
poor
rich
staff
status
G- so accordingly, what all eatables do you keep here for the low-class people to eat?
J: here, to eat,you get samosa, thumbs- up, and peanuts...you'll get chips, wafers...that's it... we are in this business for the last 25-30 yrs...
G- you are doing this for 25-30 yrs?
J: yes , for 30 yrs...at first it was a good business, good performance, but now, slowly it has gone down.
G- why do you think has the audience become smaller?
J: it has become smaller, as in, now every house has a TV and CD's, that is why the audience has become smaller, tastes have changed, some movies are not so good, very few family members come here, some Muslims don't come here, there is a lot of eve-teasing, pick-pocketing that takes place, that is why...
audience
family
food
menu
muslims
Camera person Gaurav (G), enquires about the business of Elgin talkies to Jayant(J) , the canteen owner.
development
eve-teasing
lifestyles
preferences
technology
G- so why don't the Muslim people come here?
J: Muslim people dont come here...here, mostly, people are satisfied with VCR, VD, VCD, due to inflation. Every house has 6-7 children...
G- but your tickets are very cheap....only 16 rupees...
J: tickets are cheap but they have problem in coming here, as eve-teasing, murders take place here...drunk people create a nuisance, that is why they don't like coming here.
alcoholics
cheap tickets
inflation
satisfaction
Camera pans left. We see more packets of chips and pop-corn. Another shelf has is a bottle of Fanta and one of Thumbs up. The canteen is also seen to have a ?steel? container , a red couch and a red-and-white fridge. We also see two plastic bags on the topmost shelf. The blue wooden shelves have a few stickers on them. The cam pan to Jayant(J) again. Some time later a Canteen Worker (CW), enters the canteen.
Gaurav (G)- so what is on the menu, that you have? Tea, cold-drink, etc? ( J is rubbing his eyes)
J: (turning) Tea, coffee, cold-drinks, Thumbs-up, the works...(picks up Classic Milds cigarette box)...
G- you give cigarettes as well...
J: yes, we give this cigarette, ( holding the box to the cam) Classic.
G-like that in other halls, one is not allowed to smoke cigarettes, but here it is...
J: yes yes, they have cigarettes, they have water, they have alcohol,...?......?, this is not an auditorium, this is like home for the old customers. They come, sit for 10 mins, watch the movie, sleep and then these people leave.
G- so they even come here to sleep?
J: yes! They come here to sleep! You should see when its night time, you will see the whole scene! they are all sleeping down, and that is why there are no seats put up over there, in the front.
G- oh, so people lie there and watch the films?
J: yes, they lie there and watch the films. They have a lot of fun here which is not allowed in the big auditoriums elsewhere. There you have to give 100Rs and you have to maintain decorum, sit properly. But here, in 15rs., they have fun! They drink, eat, sleep and then they leave! What do you say, ?friend? , ?
CW- yes yes!
J- (garble)
CW - ?This condition? you public will not get anywhere else!....
J - wont get!
CW - .....the safety we have here....you wont find anywhere else! Even after paying 50Rs .......
J - even if you pay 100Rs.....
CW - .....or going to a big theater...(waves his hand)....you wont get it...
J - .....you have to sit silently. That is not how it works here. Here you can relax, have fun...
CW - with 16 rs ticket you saw how comfortably they sat here, right? The screen works , they sit comfortably....
J - have water, have alcohol, some smoke cigarettes...
CW - .....some smoke cigarettes, some...
J - ....some do drugs(bhangee martaa hai)...
CW - ....(laughs) its like that...
J - ...they start...(chalo)...they pass their time and then leave.
access
auditorium
brands
cheap
cigarettes
comfort
costly
decency
decorum
drugs
freedom
fun
interiors
loyal
menu
pass time
home
G - are there any other halls near-by?
CW - yes.. there are...(points out)...
J - this man here, is one of our old workers who has been providing his service to the canteen for the last forty years.
G - yes....he told us earlier...
J - yes,he has been here since he was a small kid. The theater has adopted him.
CW - I came here when I was this small. my age was 10 years, then.
J - (garble)....this theater has adopted him! He has been taking care of this place from the time he came here!
CW - whatever the master (boss) would give, ?that was enough for all of us?.
J - 10 men will not be able to handle this place, but he can!
Jayant(J) begins to introduce the Canteen Worker (CW) to Gaurav.(G)
adoption
child workers
management
service
staff
G - you came here during your childhood?
CW - yes, during my childhood.
G - so before that where were you? where is your village?
CW - its nowhere! I am from this place itself, this is my town.
G - OK so you are from this town...
CW - before he came here, during his childhood, he was in his mother's womb!
G - (laughs) so how old must you be? What is your age right now?
CW- my age...is 49.
G - so then accordingly, when did you come here?
CW - well. I...
J - (off screen) when he was around 9 yrs old...
CW - ...yes, when I was 10, I came here.
G - what were you working as at that time?
CW - At that time, no work! I came here and stayed. I always wanted to watch movies here. So watching movies, through time, I got stuck here....
J - he got stuck here..
CW - got married here, had children. My master payed for everything....
G - Mr. Krishnamurthy's father...
CW - Mr. Krishnamurthy's.....
J - yes, his father...he came when his grandfather was here...
CW - I have been here form the time his father and grandfather were here.
G - OK...so you used to watch the films and sleep here?
CW - no I used to stay here, but after getting married I sleep at home.
G - so before that u slept here?
CW - yes, earlier, I slept here.
Gaurav (G) begins to interview the Canteen Worker (CW) now, who is standing beside Jayant (J), at the counter.
lifestyles
movie-buffs
town
village
G - so you enjoy watching movies a lot?
CW - yes, used to I enjoy a lot earlier....
G - so how many have you....
CW - you see Sholay
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073707/ , I have watched Sholay so many times! There's Dharmendra, then there is Hema Malini, Gabbar Singh (Amjad Khan)...
G - so you like Sholay a lot?
CW - yes...first-class.
G - which other films do you like?
CW - besides Sholay...i like old films....these new films are not that well made...there's Mere Mehboob
, Shaan-e-Khuda (aka Saire Paristan) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0156991/ , ?noor-e-ilyahi?, Yaadon Ki Baraat [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070935/ ,
Mere Mehboob, Shaan-e-Khuda, are all hit films of that time. Not any more...one song of Rafi Saab
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0706327/ , public ?.......?, what do you say? If in one film of 18 reels there is one song of Rafi, that's it. On hearing it people are....(throws hands up in air)...
J - '..Aaanaa ahi toh aa, Bhagwan ke ghar der hai par andher nahi..' ('come if you want, in the house of god, you may be heard late but will never be unheard.' )
Gaurav (G)is interviewing the Canteen Worker (CW) about his favorite films while Jayant (J)begins to sing.
actors
amitabh bachan
amjad khan
basanti gabbar singh
cinema
dharmendra
favorites
hema malini
hindi films
jai
mere mehboob
mohd.rafi
old films. reels
saire paristan
shaan-e-khuda
sholay
singers
thakur
villains
viru
yaadon ki baraat
fans
G - these films today, like Ajnabee
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0278291/, the one that is being screen inside, have you watched it?
CW - which one?
G - the one that is playing inside...
CW - the one that is being screened? I have watched it a bit.
G - so how did you like it?
CW - where, now, I have to do my duty, and have to ?stand at the gate?...have to do my duty. If I get time , for 10-15mins I watch the film and then come back here for work.
G - so you get to watch the film bit by bit ('thoda thoda')....
CW - yes I watch it here bit by bit. I dont find it that interesting as before, you see, as I have to attend to my duties. I do my duties, go there for a while, then come out again..
Gaurav(G) continues to interview the canteen worker (CW)who elaborates on his choice of movies.
ajnabee
breaks
new films
work
Gaurav(G) - so as you are interested in films, didn't you ever think that you wanted to try and be a hero in one of them?
CW - I did think....but only in my dreams...
Jayant(J) - He dreamt of somethings during his youth , but got(garble) ...
CW - got something else, ?dreams broke in my mind? (laughs)
J - as no one gave him a chance (to work in the films), he started working at the talkies...
G - but still, there are some people who start working at such places that make them happy. So at least, they are doing something that they like. Like they get to watch....
CW - yes....they go where they like....they work in studios, they go to Raj Kapoor
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004292/ , they go there, they start working at studios, they wish to work there and are interested. But I was here from childhood, right, I remained here itself. Nothing else interested me. To go somewhere and do something...was here only. If I would stop working, ?Jamil bhai? Would catch hold of me. He would call me, ask me to come to work.
The Canteen Worker (CW) is seen here talking about his unfulfilled dream to be a part of films to camera person Gaurav(G) and canteen owner Jayant(J)
actors
ambitions
chance
childhood
destiny
dreams
hero
opportunities
raj kapoor
youth
G - so how many children do you have?
CW - three children, two boys and a girl.
G - how old are they?
CW - one is 10 yrs, one of 15 and one of 8.
G - are they also interested in watching films?
CW - they do come sometimes. They are studying in school/college, that's why.
G - so they aren't particularly interested in films.
CW - no, no, it is me only.
G - they dont watch them at home also?....
CW - no, no...
G - on DVD's, cable?
CW - no, no, at home they just watch TV. They dont come here at the hall.
Gaurav,(G), the camera person is seen here inquiring the Canteen Worker (CW),about his family.
children
families
family planning
teenagers
G - so do you ever bring your wife here to show her the films?
CW - no...sometimes I do....
G - at the beginning you must have brought her here...
CW - yes! At the start, because, everybody goes out...?before the show starts? Take her to out, take her to eat, drink, like doing that.
G - so that means you like it here, as you have begun working here?
CW - yes...i m here from start as my master is a good man. He gave me whatever I wanted, I needed clothes, he bought them for me, needed money, he gave. So I m living well. You are getting to eat and drink right? That is all, what more do you need (in life)? Nothing!
(Noorahmed enters)
WhileGaurav (G) is questioning the canteen worker (CW), another Elgin worker, Noorahmed (N), enters the canteen in the background.
contentment
masters
romance
canteen
staff
waiters
CW - take his (interview).
G - yes, you tell. we have been waiting for you for a long time.
N - what should I tell?
J - how many children you have, how many... (garble)
G - first tell us your name.
N - my name is Noorahmed. Noorahmed.
G - Noorahmed. What do you do here?
N - I work here...
G - I mean, what work have you got?
N - I work at this canteen. As a waiter.
G - so you work here with Mr. Jayant?
N - yes...i work here...
This clip has Noorahmed (N) introducing himself. While the other Canteen worker(CW) exits the canteen. Noorahmed is the waiter of the canteen.Guarav(G) begins to interview a busy Noorahmed.
Gaurav(G)- for how long have you been here?
N - I have now been here for 18 years.
G - for 18 years?
N - yes
G - so what do you think is the difference in this place 18 yrs back and now?
N - now it is a lot different. There's big difference between our business then and now. There's our earnings then, were way different from our earnings now. Earlier we used to earn a lot. Earlier working at the theater, we would get me 25rs. But now I get 10rs only. Now its very difficult...
G - difficult...
N - to make a living, its difficult.
Noorahmed (N)describes life at Elgin Talkies.
audience
business
earn
income
livelihood
struggle
survive
wages
Gaurav(G)- so now the audience coming in is also very small?
N - very small, very small... (bahut kam, bahut kam). The audience is not the same as before. Earlier, the audience... there were a lot of people that used to come to watch, now nobody come. Now a lot of people from Bihar come here.
G - the locals dont come here?
N - no locals come. Only the outsiders, who are working here, come.
G - so do you think this is a good thing or a bad, that only outsiders come to watch .....
N - good, good...its a good thing...you see, our business is still functioning because they come here. We must thank them...
Noorahmed (N)describes the type of audience that comes to Elgin talkies.
bihar
employment
grateful
locals
migration
minorities
small
society
G - ok, so , you have been living here for 18 years now, were you married then?
N - I came here, 18 years back, ?started working here?, then after three years got married.
G - so do you have children?
N - yes I do have children.
G - how many children you have?
N - six...six children.
G -six children....
N - four girls and two boys....
Gaurav(G) is inquiring about Noorahmed's (N) family
children
family planning
life
marriage
G - so do they like watching films?
N - not that much
G - do you like watching films?
N - no even I don't like them.
G - you dont watch films?
N - no I dont watch them that much. ?I dont watch them? Only when I have to go and close the gates, that's all, I dont watch more than that......now the films made also are not right, barring the older films, nothing is good. Now they remove their shirts and make ?...?
Noorahmed(N) compares old films with the new.
changes
cinema
compare
films
trends
Salim who works as a mechanic in a next door. Salim is one of Elgin's regular audience. Salim, and a few other men along with the Canteen worker (CW) are seen joking about marriage.
(casual banter)
chat
jokes
mechanic
relax
technicians
Elgin Talkies courtyard, Shivaji Nagar, Bangalore
love
marriage
Camera person and interviewer Gaurav(G) is now interviewing Salim(S) about his marriage plans.
G - so you are planning on getting married?
S - It is now completely successful, just a little bit....as in...now only the traditional things remain as the engagement and then (my) wedding will take place, ?straight?
G - so how....as in your family chose the girl or you did?
S - no, I chose, myself. Then I told my family and then they went and spoke(to her family) and it was a success.
G - so did you first ask the girl or not?
S - I asked the girl,directly and then told my family. The girl is the main person!
G - so did you ask her in a filmi-style?
S - yes, I told her in a filmi-style only! She wouldnt have agreed if I would have told her in a normal way!
G - (laughs)
effect
family
life
lovers
proposals
films
G- do you like watching films?
S - ('yes')
G - so you watch a lot of films?
S - ('yes')
G - which film do you watch the most?
S - I watch a lot of Ballu's films.
(Ballu is a character played by Sanjay Dutt
in a film called Khalnayak [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107311/ )
(zoom in on salim)
G - whose films?
S - Sanjay ...
(cam pans and dolly's up to show poster of Sanjay Dutt's film 'Maine Dil Tujh ko Diya'
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0326600/ , i.e. I GaveYou My Heart)
G - Sanjay Baba's?
(cam back on Salim)
G - and who else?
S - Shah Rukh Khan
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0451321/ , he is enough for love stories. (indicating towards Sanjay Dutt's poster) His work is to pump bullets.(laughs)
Salim (S), the mechanic, is seen talking about his favorite actors and why he likes them to Gaurav (G) the camera person.
characters
fans
favorite
hindi
khalnayak
king khan
movie-buffs
posters
sanjay dutt
sanju baba
shahrukh khan actors
romance
Gaurav(G) - so now that you are getting married will you bring her here too?
S - it is important to bring her here. Weekly, at least once, I ll have to bring her for a show.
G - (laughs) OK....
Salim(S) is seen talking about his future wife.
dreams
impress
plans
spend
G - what work do you do?
S - Mechanic
G - work as a mechanic?
S- yes
G - so where is your shop?
S - its close by
G - its close by?
S - yes
G - so how many films do you come to watch here? How many times a week do you come here?
S - here? I have lost count. Whenever I feel like coming here, I come. I even watch films six times in a week.
G - so you get that much time off from work to come and watch?
S - yes. I get free in the evening ,right. One cant work in dark, so I m free and so I come and watch a film.
Gaurav(G), asks Salim (S) about, his work and his love for films
craze
job
mechanic
night
obsession
weekly
work
break
free
time
Gaurav (G)- so is it like you watch these films bit by bit?
S - I watch it bit by bit. If I like a scene I come at that moment and watch that scene.
(offscreen) Boy: you are being called.
S - tell them I m coming.
Boy - (garble)
G - who is calling you?
S - my friend.
G - OK... thank you...what is your name?
S - Salim.
G - Salim....OK thank you Salim.
Salim's (S) friend calls him in the middle of the interview.
favorite
films
moments
scene
G - you are having your lunch so late.
CW - yes.
G - but lunch time is at 1 or 2.
CW - we get our break now right. So after all the work , sit to eat.
G - ok go ahead have your lunch.
CW - move.. move..
Gaurav enter a room with a huge carbon-arc projector. The Canteen Worker is having his lunch which has been spread on newpapers
Projector room, Elgin talkies, Shivaji Nagar, Bangalore
carbon-arc projector
food
late
lunch
staff
work
Boy - ....like Dutt's...
G - you like Sanjay Dutt's
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004569/ , films?
Boy - yes, Sanjay Dutt's
(CW)(offscreen) - this is our son. This is my son.
G - this is your son?!...
CW - yes
Boy- yes
G - ....OK then you come here, I want to talk to you
CW - go, talk to him properly
G - so may I talk to him? He is your elder son?
CW - yes. He is my elder son.
G - elder son? Come, please come here.
CW - go.
G - so you like Sanjay Dutt's films?
Boy - yes I like Sanjay Dutt;s films a lot.
G - how many films do you watch?
B - watch a lot of sanjay Dutt's films.
G - so you mean daily....
B - yes daily. Daily if its going on, on TV. I dont allow anyone at home to change the channel if this film is coming on TV. Every day my brother and me fight, 'you want to watch this, we want to watch something else'
G - what does your younger brother like?
B - he likes Salman Khan
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006795/
G - now Salman Khan's younger brother's film will start here....
(refering to 'Maine Dil Tujh ko Diya'
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0326600/ , i.e. I GaveYou My Heart)
B - yes...
Gaurav starts talking to a Boy (B), who turns out to be the Canteen Worker (CW)'s son.
actors
brother
family
fans
fights
interests
likes
obsession
preferences
sallu
salman khan
sanjay dutt
sanju baba
son
together
tv
Elgin Talkies courtyard, Shivaji Nagar, Bangalore
G - you people don't come here to watch films?
B - we keep coming here. now in the evening, when I come here, then I keep watching.
G - doesn't your father stop you?
B - no, he doesn't stop.
G - Ok, Ok,..so what do you plan on doing in the future?
B - huh?
G - what do plan to to in the future, as a grownup?
B - my younger brother is studying in school, I work at the oil shop next door.
G - huh?
B - the oil shop, here...that's where I work.... Salim Bhai told you right? I work at his shop.
G - Ok, Thank you....
Gaurav(G) is talking to the Canteen Worker's (CW) elder Boy (B)
ban
bar
mechanic
oil
shop
stop
study
teenagers
worker
A man named Sohail(S), who sells pineapple slices, and other sweets on a cart, for a very small price, is seen here being interviewed by Gaurav(G) outside the Elgin Talkies gate.During the interview two of his sons are seen coming into the frame, and standing behind their father. We can see posters of films being put up by a few men in the background at the talkies gate.
G - what is your name?
Sohail - my name is Sohail,sir..
G - to always put up your cart here?
So - yes, ...aye...
G - is that your son?
SO - yes
G - so for how long have you been putting up your cart here?
SO - I m here from ten in the morning to ten or eleven in the night.
G - but how many years have you been putting it up?
SO - I have been putting it up, sir....now for 13-14 years.
G - 13-14 years...
SO - yes...
G - but why have you chosen this spot? Do you benefit from the fact that Elgin Talkies is behind you? So as people come to watch films...
SO - no, its like we can earn a living.....we earn a living.....as in, we get a little bit ....(?words overlapped with honking?), that is why....
G - but the people that go in, do they buy things from you?
SO - they buy something....whatever little money they give, with that....
Outside Elgin Talkies, Shivaji nagar, Bangalore
cart
cheap
children
conditions
earn
father
life
little
livelihoon
living
low0cost
pain
pinapple
son
struggle
survive
sweets
vendors
business
Camera person, Gaurav(G) is interviewing a tea stall owner. The stall has been in front of the talkies for 30 years. The Stall Owner (ST)pauses his work to talk about his business in relation to Elgin Talkies.
G - how old is your stall?
ST- what, sir? I didn't hear you properly...
G - for how long has your stall been here?
ST - I m here for 30 years.
G - for 30 years?
ST - hmm...
G - so, opposite you is Elgin talkies...
ST - yes yes...
G - do you benefit from that, as in your stall being right in from of it...
ST - yes, if their business is going well even we get house-full, good business, double business. ?...? double
G - double...
ST - yes..
G - ?when their's is good..?
ST -really...yes, ?good business? is running good...?we earn double?
G - OK...so business has changed in last 30 years? Business has grown or...
ST - no, has gone down little.because now no one comes to the picture (Film), they will watch it on their TV. Because of that, no pictures....customers are less...so we have ?...? business
customers
establish
growth
relation
Tea Stall, Near Elgin Talkies, Shivaji Nagar, Bangalore
owners
stall
tea
G - so you haven't gone inside and watched movies?
ST - a lot of times. I go there to urinate...
G - do you live near-by or somewhere else?
ST - I live behind this place
G - oh behind this only? so you go with your family also ?
ST - no, no, family no....
G - earlier you used to go? Earlier I think ....
ST - I used to go very long back... I have seen with family but now-a-days I don't.
ST - have tea?
G - sorry?
ST - have tea?
G - no no......
Gaurav (G) enquirers about the Stall owners' (ST) family.
activities
break
family
G - how long has your shop bee here?
Cigarette Man- well, its been around 10 years.
G - for ten years now?
CM - yes...
G - so as your shop is right opposite the Talkies, so do you benefit from it? Do people buy more cigarettes from you? Does something like that happen?
CM - yes it does..
G - benefit more...but even they, at the talkies, sell cigarettes.
CM- huh?
G - cigarettes are sold inside the talkies too...
CM- yes they do....(garble)
G - OK.. thank you...
Packets of various brands of cigarettes are placed neatly on top of the other and tobacco packets are hanging in the shop. The Cigarette Man (CM ) answers camera person Gaurav(G)'s questions while he chews on ghutkha.
Shivaji Nagar
brands
cigarettes
ghutkha
seller
shop
tobacco
G - what is your name?......
G - what is your name?
Man - ?Narayana?
G - Narayana?....do you work here?
N - yes...
G - since when have you been working here?
N - (?talking in Kannada?, calls the Canteen Worker - CW)
Gaurav (G) begins to interview the sweeper of Elgin Talkies?Narayana? (N) in the courtyard. We can see, the gate of Elgin talkies and the canteen worker (CW) who had been earlier interviewed by Gaurav, in the background. Narayana calls the canteen worker inside.
canteen
staff
Elgin Talkies courtyard, Shivaji Nagar, Bangalore
cleaner
sweeper
worker
N - my master gives me clothes, give me money.....(?continues in Kannada?)
CW - (?talking in Kannada?)
B - (?talking in Kannada?)
The canteen worker (CW)and his son (B) is seen talking to the talkies sweeper, cleaner Narayana, helping him to answer camera person Gaurav's (G)
boss
clothes
employer
master
money
provide
G - for how long is he working here?
CW - who? He, right? It must have been 15 years..
G - its been 15 years...
CW - yes...
G - so his job is cleaning etc?
CW - yes he cleans the bathroom, latrines....all of the dusting etc, he does it all.
(?All three talking in Kannada?)
G - see your photo....
(?kannada?)
The canteen worker (CW) is answering gaurav's (G)questions on behalf of the sweeper.
The camera pans around the projector room, where we can see two carbon-arc projectors.
(No dialogue)
Projector room, Elgin talkies, Shivaji Nagar, Bangalore
carbon-arc
old
projector
rooms
theater
The projection window is seen laden with cob-webs. As the camera zooms out, to show one of the carbon-arc projectors, we see light of the projection.
projection
unkempt
Gaurav (G) begins to interview Ramkrishna(R) the senior projector man of Elgin talkies about his work. Ramkrishna not being fluent in Hindi is helped by his junior to answer the questions.
G - what is your name?
Man - Ramkrishna
G - what is it?
R - Ramkrishna...
G - how long have you been here?
R - what?
G - Do you know Hindi?
R - no
G - you dont know hindi...
(turning to another man offscreen) do you know hindi....
Man - he is asking you for how long have you been working here?
R - it has been 20 years.
G - completed 20 years?....OK...so twenty years you have been working here....so you have to work here for all seven days of a week?
R - yes....yes...
G - ( cam pans to projectors and back) so why are there two projectors here?
R - each reel runs for twenty mins.
G - so then the other one starts working...
R - yes...
junior
management
projectors
reel
senior
staff
technology
Gaurav(G) is talking to the junior projector staff about his work, his favorite films, and the films which mostly run at the Elgin talkies
R - come....(calling someone standing offscreen)
Man - (?kannada?)
G - so you are learning how to work with a projector...
Man - yes...i know how to...
G - you know how it works...so now that you have learnt it, you can manage it properly?
Man - yes..
G - OK...so do you like watching movies/
Man - huh?
G - do you like watching movies?
Man -yes.
G - which movie actor do you like?
Man - I like Shah Rukh Khan
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0451321/ ,
G - you like Shahrukh Khan? But Shahrukh Khan's films dont come here anymore.
Man - it does come sometimes.
G - sometimes?....so do you got elsewhere to watch his movies?
Man - yes I do go elsewhere.
G - so which of the movies work here the most?
Man - here.... mostly Mithun's
, Sanjay Dutt's {http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004569/....
G - Sanjay Dutt?...
Man -yes...
(?..................?)
actors
choices
cinema
favorite
films
hindi
......(? kannada?)
(hindi)
Gaurav (G) - you are learning the functioning of the projector?
Man - huh?
G - so you are now learning to work with the projector?
Man - yes, I know how to ..
G - you know how to ?...
man - yes...
G - so now that you have learnt it all, you will be able to handle it?
Man - yes, I will...
G - ok...so...are you interested in watching films?
Man- huh?
G- do you like films?
Man - yes..
G - which actor do you like?
Man - I like Shah Rukh Khan
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0451321/
G- you like Shah Rukh Khan.... but his films dont get screened here...
Man - they do sometimes....
G - sometimes...so otherwise you go outside to watch them?
Man- yes I do...
G - here, what films works here the most?
Man- here, mithun's
, films, sanjay dutt's [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004569/, ...
G - Sanjay dutt?....
Man- yes...
(?kannada?)
mithun
preferences
shahrukh khan. sanjay dutt
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