There was much in common between the two standalone cinema halls in two different cities. Eros Cinema in Mumbai and Elite Cinema in Calcutta were both fine examples of Art Deco theatres.

The first was built in 1938 and the other in 1940. Both screened some of the biggest Hollywood and Bollywood blockbusters, and were frequented by cine-goers of all ages. One stood proud in the heritage precinct of Churchgate in Mumbai, another was a stone’s throw from the British-built Esplanade.

And that is where the commonality ends. Today, Eros continues to stand, revamped and resplendent, restored to its pristine beauty, and open to the public and screenings. Elite, however, has been pulled down; nothing remains of its signature façade.

Eros is located within the Cambata building at Churchgate in south Mumbai. It stands out amidst a sea of Victorian Gothic structures. It was designed by architect Shorabji Bhedwar, known as the Art Deco man who followed the Streamline Moderne style that emerged in the 1930s incorporating nautical elements.

The Cambata Building on Back Bay Reclamation site looks more like a ocean liner with the Eros signage flashing like a beacon. Part of the Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai and a listed World Heritage Site, Eros was closed in April 2017. The Cambata family that owns the building was in talks with other businesses to revive Eros. Its restoration and renovation were undertaken by Hafeez Contractor and Kirtida Unwalla.

Elite, on the other hand, might have been built to serve as a ballroom dancing venue and called Palace of Varieties, but according to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation officials, its newest avatar will be a shoe shop. The hall was pulled down in February 2024.

Yes, the same Elite Cinema, which was remodelled in Art Deco style according to the plans of British architect M.A. Riddley Abbott and completed in 1948 by local architect John Berchman Fernandes. Elite, which reopened in 1950 with the screening of Red River starring John Wayne, was taken over by 20th Century Fox Corp in 1955.

The original proscenium was removed and a new one was built. A little over 60 years later, it hosted its last show in June 2018.

When a year ago, Eros was draped in those fear-invoking green construction cloths that are known to hide the destruction of many a heritage building, hell broke loose on social media. A lot of people bemoaned the death of a part of their youthful years. Many recalled their first movie dates. One such person even proclaimed he would never go to the movies again! But in Calcutta, Elite’s closure a few years ago and its subsequent demolition were marked by a few news reports, random selfie-clicks and the rest was silence.

As plans go, the sidewalls of Elite are to be preserved but its facade with its unique lettering and moulded deco embellishments have been torn down to push the building further away from the sidewalk.

Elite is not a lone case of death of a cinema hall in a heritage zone. Within a five-kilometre radius of it, there are standalone cinema halls that have either been converted into shopping centres or restaurants, or are standing in utter neglect, awaiting impending death or transformation.

“This area used to be the entertainment zone of the erstwhile British residents,” says G.M. Kapur of Intach, Calcutta Chapter. He continues, “Each of these halls used to be opera houses or cinemas with polished mahogany bars and eateries. An English movie with a drink or two at the bar was a regular way to rewind over the weekend for many a sahib. Later, with Independence and the departure of the sahibs, each of these turned into cinemas showing Hollywood films and even as late as the 1970s, many of the halls ran a bar. Even today, the New Empire has a bar.”

The Eros restoration in Mumbai has remained true to its original aesthetics and philosophy, both inside and on the outside. Eros today has an IMAX cinema on its second floor with eateries and retail outlets on the ground floor, its main architectural features such as the entrance foyer with its black and white marble floor, its striking sunroof and bas relief circular columns all intact.

“We wanted to make sure that the building’s principal character wasn’t lost amidst this large-scale restoration,” says Kirtida Unwalla. “But we were also thinking about how movie lovers would explore the new space in a more modern way,” he adds.