 |
|
|
Cinema halls face The End
Cine-goers and big screen lovers are in for a tough time ahead. More than two thirds of about 12-15 large or medium capacity cinemas of Jalandhar city, once known as the hub of film distributors and a paradise for cine-goers, have either closed their shutters or heading for closure. Mute spectators to the fast-paced crash landing of cinema business, including the cine-goers, cinema owners and distributors, have lost their hopes for revival of the time when Jalandhar was the only city to have fresh prints of new movies much ahead of rest of Punjab and where good films ran for silver or golden jubilees. Not only the cinema hall owners are aghast to have been the witnesses of the unceremonious closure of well-known cinemas, including Seema, Hari, Cine Payal, Pritam, Sutlej and Krishna, but also feel a tinge of pain whenever reminded about “those good old days” when films were a full-loaded passion of people as well as makers. Nowadays, only two-three cinemas - Friends, Narendra and Laxmi - are still running well, while Sant, Naaz, Lal Rattan, Luxmi and the likes are said to be just ‘breathing’. “Everything has changed since early eighties. The change has been so fast that it was even difficult for us to imagine about two decades back that things would go such a way. TV, VCDs and DVDs have virtually crushed cinema business. Earlier, people form every section of society used to throng cinemas to enjoy movies. But now while the upper and middle class watch new movies on their large LCD screens and television sets those from the lower class prefer to pool in money and hire a DVD player to watch a new movie. “This phenomena has hit cinema like anything. I don’t feel that cinema will ever get resurrected in Punjab,” says a nostalgic Sadhu Singh, a city businessman and owner of Sangeet cinema. Yash Pal Mittal, a film distributor and secretary general of the Northern India Motion Picture Association, blamed the “faulty” tax structure for the ‘demise’ of cinema business in Punjab. “Who can pay the seating capacity based lump-sum tax when there are no viewers? While on one hand the prices of the movies have shot up, the screening time has gone down along with the quality. Earlier, a new movie came for just about Rs.5 lakhs, now, it comes for Rs. 5 crore. These are the factors behind the degeneration of cinema as a business. Governments need to do something if this business is to be saved,” said Mittal. Trade sources revealed that pirated CDs and DVDs have harmed the cinema business in more than one ways. After Partition, almost all film distributors had migrated to Jalandhar from Lahore and other parts of the country thereby raising their number to about 200. Mandi Road, adjoining to Railway Road, had been popular as a ‘Mecca’ of film business, particularly, from distribution point of view. But, the sad cinema scenario has forced many a distributors to shun their business and to brace some other professions. As a result only about 15-16 distributors are left there to hold the crumbling fort. Only those distributors are doing brisk business these days who get big banner films and that too on a regular basis. Similarly, nearly 150 films are put up in cinemas of the city every year, but, only about half a dozen turn out to be hits and another two dozen do ‘good business’. The remaining distributors have to eat a humble pie by bearing huge losses. “On what basis you will do the business when films considered to be super-hit ones don’t last for more than four weeks. “Guru” is an example of this. The film business can only be saved if government steps in to do something serious about it. They can remove entertainment tax on the lines of Jammu and Kashmir. This can be first step towards resurrection of cinema in Punjab,” said Sadhu Singh. “I love to watch movies in a theatre alongwith my family, but, we don’t go there for lack of facilities like adequate parking. Moreover, good films rarely come these days. So, we watch these at home,” said Amar Iqbal Singh, a resident of Jalandhar’s Model Town locality.
|
|
Phagwara marriage palaces in violation mode
Putting at risk the lives of people, the marriage palace owners are openly flouting the norms of construction and the guidelines framed for them.
Although the public has raised voice against them but the Nagar Council (NC) is acting as a silent spectator. Nearly 23 marriage palaces out of 48 listed by the NC defy most of the bylaws. These marriage palaces were built by converting industrial sheds, residential buildings, dharamshalas and agriculture land. Besides, many of these were built irrespective of their proximity with educational institutions and residences, thereby creating a nuisance for residents and students. Although, city’s comparative industrial boom has succeeded to keep this trend in limits with only 18 new palaces constructed in this period, but majority of them have not adhered to the special guidelines. These were framed for the palaces after the devastating fire in Dabwali and Uphar cinema tragedy in New Delhi that prompted the NC authorities to issue strict guidelines. Consequently all, except two, have no proper parking space or fire fighting equipment mandatory to avert such tragedies. Less than half of these are built on 2,000 sq yard plots contrary to guidelines. Just a few are located on roads that are at least 80 feet wide. Just a few of these palaces have the requisite number of a minimum of four exits, emergency door ventilation, fire alarms or sanitation. Almost all marriage palaces that have open spaces use shamianas made of inflammable material. Till now, no concrete action has been initiated against these palaces that have come up infringing all norms of constructions and the guidelines framed for them. It all bespeaks of the connivance of NC officials with the owners. More than half the marriage palaces were served notices, but they were never pursued. The situation has come to such a pass that some of these have even encroached upon adjoining roads. But complaints to the NC authorities regarding noise pollution, sanitation hazard besides brawls, drinking bouts have fallen on deaf ears. The President, Nagar Council, Malkiat Singh Ragbotra, was not available for comments.
|
|
CBSE Plus Two exams begin
Hundreds of Plus Two students from schools affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) appeared for the examination that began at various centres in Jalandhar on Thursday.
Being a physics paper today, students only from the medical and non-medical streams appeared for the examination. The students appeared in centres set up in other CBSE schools. The centre for students of Innocent Hearts School has been set up at Police DAV School while the students from the latter school appeared at Army Public School, Jalandhar Cantonment. Centre for CT Public School students has been set up at Apeejay School. The examination began at 10:30 am and students continued to write paper till 1:30 pm. The Class Tenth examination will begin from tomorrow onwards, with the first paper of social studies. Painting exhibition Second year MA fine arts students opened their two-day painting exhibition “Expressions-2007” at Apeejay College of Fine Arts on Thursday. Students depicted various aspects of life through the medium of colour. Paintings of Esha Chadha, the first prize winner, presented the importance of spiritualism, happiness and music in life. The painting of second prize winner, Jasreen Kathuria, depicted unfilled desires in woman’s life. Third prize holder, Deepika Bhardwaj, had painted on the theme “Life after life”. Other artistes used canvas to present college life, Indian culture, prosperity and other themes. Esha won a cash prize of Rs 1000 from renowned artist, Shiv Singh. The exhibition was opened by S.S. Johl, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation. Sports meet
DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology organised its annual sports meet on Wednesday. Events such as 100 mts race, 400 mts race, 1500 mts race, shot put, discus throw, javelin throw, long jump and relay races were organised in both men and women categories. Dr N.P. Singh, Dean Examination, PTU, was the chief guest. Workshop
A 10-day media workshop organised at KMV in collaboration with Delhi Film Institute concluded on Sunday. The participants undertook training as TV news reader, anchor and radio jockey. Rita Bawa, principal, said that the college would soon start its own community radio station. Placement
Nine students of Apeejay College of Fine Arts have been selected by Infosys, a Bangalore-based IT company. Six students of KMV College have also been selected in the company as technical support executive, while one of them has been appointed as junior software engineer. Science day
Students of Manav Sehyog School celebrated National Science Day on Wednesday. An inter-house quiz and working model making contest was organised. The Kamla Nehru College for Women organised a science forum on Wednesday. Karanpreet, a student, highlighted the inventions of C.V. Raman, in whose memory the day is celebrated. Navjot Kaur, another student, presented a multi-media presentation on cause behind earthquake. MAT result
Ranjita Kapur, a student of BSc (III) (Economics) from Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya College, has got 98 per cent marks in Management Aptitude Test (MAT) conducted by the All-India Management Association on February 4.
|
|
Reality show winners in city
Winners of the “Awaaz Punjabi Di” reality show that just concluded on Mh1 came to Jalandhar on Thursday.
Masha Ali had won the contest in the male category, while Sandy was declared winner in the female category. Talking to mediaperson, they said the reality show provided them a good opportunity to earn fame. Masha Ali said he had started singing at an early age. He said he had won the first prize as a Class V student in a singing contest organised by the Punjab School Education Board. He then continued winning medals. As a student of Government Rajindra College, Bathinda, he said he had learnt music from his gurus, Sunil Seth, Anil Bharti, Gurjit Mann and Harjinder Mour. He then participated in Punjabi University Patiala youth festivals and won prizes each time. He had even won a gold medal in inter-university contest.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
