Cinema goes mobile on four wheels

To say the least, the history of Prakash mobile theatre is the history of cinema in our country. Firozbhai’s father Jivabhai had run away from home to land in Mumbai, where the film industry is based.

“My father bought a tiny second-hand projector from Chor Bazaar. He used to run cartoon strips and entertain children,” says Firozbhai.

Then Jivabhai (who by that time had absorbed the surname Cinemawala) came to Ahmedabad and bought a projector from a theatre. “My fatherbought it for Rs 1,000 in those days,” says Firozbhai.

“We have learnt to repair it (projector) ourselves. Spares are not available anywhere.” When small wheels wear off, they are changed. However, the original lens has survived the ravages of time. It uses 12-watt lamp and runs on battery.

But where do the duo get the films from? “Reels of scenes which are censored or edited out are sold at Rs 2 per kg,” Firozbhai explains. Very small pieces are sold for children to view using small binocular-like gadget. The bigger pieces are connected and made into viewable films.

The duo set out every afternoon with some 15 films. The screening goes on till about 11.00 pm. “When there is a fair or a festival, we work through the night,” he says.

While the young are charged 50 paise, the not-so-young have to shell out Rs 2 for licking up indecent scenes.

The business is not bad after all. “We get some Rs 150-200 daily, and on Sundays rake in up to Rs 400,” say the duo, whose families depend solely onthis income. “This is the only surviving mobile theatre in the city,” they say.

Will the show go on? “Yes, we have survived while big theatres here have closed down,” says Forozbhai.