Premprakash rechristened as The Golcha

The 53-year old cinema hall, Premprakash which was inaugurated by Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur in 1948 with the release of the film Shaheed starring the popular pair, Dilip Kumar and Kamini Kaushal, was renamed The Golcha on March 7. For the first time ever, a cinemahall of Jaipur has been named after the surname of its proprietor.

The “renaming” of Premprakash cinema, an all-time attractive rendezvous for movie buffs because of its central location on the brink of Mirza Ismail Road, the life-line of Jaipur, was done with great fanfare amidst colourful fireworks, military band playing fine tunes, fountain distancing its faint flavour, snacks profusely served to invited gentry in Holi mood.

Pradyuman Singh, Finance Minister of Rajasthan, formally inaugurated the new cinemahall by lighting the lamp, while Shanti Dhariwal, Urban Development Minister, the most popular among the Cabinet Ministers for beautification campaign of the Pink City with regular removal of encroachments, presided over the function. Bina Kak, Tourism Minister, popular in the film circles for her keen interest in setting up the Film City in Jaipur and Jodhpur, was the chief guest. Above all, the noted painter of Gajgamini fame, MF Hussain drew a painting on the cinema stage, while the inauguration ceremony was on.

The programme with proprietor Surendra Golcha welcoming the guests and his son, Abhimanyu Golcha concluded the function with profuse thanks to the distinguished gentry. Phalguni Bansal compered the show.

It may be added that the cinema has been completely renovated and technically upgraded at the cost of Rs. 1-1/2 crores, providing comfortable spacious seating accommodation, ultra modern sound system with amazing effects: Dolby EX installed for the first time in the country and third cinemahall of the world, a new class “The Royal Box” has been introduced with separate canteens for each class of cinegoers and a colourful ambience, with a charm of its own. The number of seats have been reduced from 1350 to 1276.

Design of the cinemahall was prepared by noted architect WM Namjoshi, who also designed the Golcha of Delhi and Maratha Mandir of Mumbai. Founded by the late Sohanmal Golcha and nurtured by his son, the late Harishchandra Gocha, the entertainment tradition is being flourished now with modern gadgets by his great grandson, America-educated Abhimanyu Golcha.

“I will continue making films” - MF Hussain
Noted painter MF Hussain, who was in Ajmer to promote his film Gajagamini, while addressing newsmen said that he was not disheartened from the comparative failure of his film Gajgamini at the box-office. He will continue making films, so long as his ‘horses’ (paintings) run”. He will very shortly launch his new film Do Kadam Chalke Dekho, which will be quite a different film: male-oriented, story-based and musical too. The film story centers round three families settled in Jaisalmer, Hyderabad and Czechoslovakia. Most of the film will be picturised at the golden sand dunes of Jaisalmer, and partly at Hyderabad and Czechoslovakia. Cast for his new film is yet to be selected.
Criticising the underworld activities like threatening calls from dons for money from the Mumbai film personalities, he said, these were not a good sign for healthy cinema and deserve condemnation by all.

He said, he is premiering Gajagamini from Mayo College in Ajmer and the film will be screened in almost all the prominent educational institutions of the country.

Cable operators nabbed
VK Agarwal, Commissioner Income Tax, Jodhpur, disclosed after looking into the past business records of two cable operators of Shivganj (District Sirohi), one cable operator surrendered his undeclared income of Rs. 5 lakhs thirty-three thousands and agreed to pay advance tax for the same.

The other cable operator surrendered undeclared income of Rs. 4 lakhs sixty-two thousands and agreed to pay advanced tax for the same.

Obviously, with under-declaration of subscribers, cable operators’ is a fabulous business showing films and film-based programmes round the clock in cosy homes, telecast from multiplicity of TV channels, of courage at the expense of the big screen, with declining audiences in the cinema-halls.

MP Garg