Panjim’s oldest Cinema House awarded ISO Certificate ‘A’ It seems about 80 years old Capital’s oldest Cinema House ‘Cine National’ is now awarded certificate ‘A’ by Panjim CCP or by ESG ? as all movies shown there are meant for Adults.
Presently showing.. Her Private affair (A) Virgin Hunter (A) Hot blue night (A) Malayalam (A) Noble Lady (A) Best Partner (A) Cine National is located near 18 June Road (Road opp Panjim Church). Cine national is next to the Heritage building complex like Massano de Amorim and Santa Casa da Misericordia (presently Social Welfare Dept, Urban Heath Centre, a library and a school). The only movie I watched there was in mid 1980s ‘Saagar’ with Dimple Kapadia, Kamla Hassan, Rishi Kapoor etc Cine National is now mostly frequented by Migrants (and sometimes JoeGoaUk, read on). Although other city cinema houses (Inox/Ashok/Samrat) ticket price ranges from 110-190 (Except some early morning show Rs.50-90), at Cine National there are only two types/rates. Max. 35 balcony and Max.30 lower stall. It’s not just the ticket rates that attract migrants but the type of movies too. I was curious to know what the inside of the theatre looks like or what the cinema goers get for Rs.35. We bought 2 tickets for a Malayalam show. About 300 seater Balcony is exactly the same with all seats but no a/c. Below the balcony – Upper/lower Stall area, all seats seems piled up in the middle. We even understand they allow people to seat on floors on payment of Rs.20. Picture quality is worst. It’s like watching on 16mm screen, with full of disturbance lines on the screen as if the print is 40-50 years old (the film we watch was of 2001), repeated split frames and the person behind the projector wont fix it unless people from the audience shouts to bring to his attention. I must confess that although our visit was meant for about 5-10 minutes we end up watching the whole movie (about 75 minutes duration). This is the first time we watched Malayalam. We didn’t understand a word but who cares? It was certificate ‘A’ movie remember? And it was not just like any other ‘A’ films but I would give it ‘XX’ rating. Kya baat hai! It looks like the theatre is run by RAO family(see pic) who are the lease holders of the building (lease now run out but they are allowed to carry on) The inside of the theatre is messy with broken chairs/tables/dirty walls etc. I don’t think it passes the Health and Safety standards. To sum up, it does not fit for human beings. It is being in the heart of the city, I wonder what impression would tourists take should they decide to watch a film there say English Movie. I am sure some CCP members making some good money on it too. See pics Cine National http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk18/3448410138/sizes/l/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk18/3447598555/sizes/l/ Now, some of you may like to know whether JoeGoaUk will visit Cine National again? - No comments. And before I go.. Did you know? There was another Cinema house named ‘CINE EDEN’ in Panjim somewhere near the present Cine National. It was there since early 1940’s El Dorado since 1960s till 1996. (Now, converted inot El Dorado Building). The 'end' of El dorado celeberated with the screeing of the film 'Anth' [email protected] for Goa & NRI related info... http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/ For Goan Video Clips http://youtube.com/joeukgoa In Goa, Dial 1 0 8 For Hospital, Police, Fire etc
