End credits roll as 1 more C Kol hall bites the dust

Time of India

9 hours ago

Kolkata: Crown, one of the last symbols of Esplanade area's 16 single screen theatre that was once the talk of the country, will soon be razed to the ground. The theatre, fondly referred to as the Cinema Hall of Janab Hashim Chandni Wale and known for playing films like 'Funtoosh', 'Qurbani', 'Aashique', 'Sadak', was shut down in 2022 and will be demolished by Oct.
An old staffer of Crown told TOI that there will be clarity on what will come up on that space once the demolition work is over. Crown will join the list of single screens in Esplanade, once home to Majestic, Chaplin, Tiger, Lighthouse, Regal, Roxy, Paradise, Elite, Lotus, Jyoti, New Cinema and Opera Show House, which are now vibrant only in the memory of spectators. While New Empire and Society are still operational in their old format, Globe and Metro have been repurposed as cineplex.
Roxy is undergoing repair and restoration.
According to historical records, Crown Cinema was established in 1945 by Messrs Md Hashim and Md Yasin. "Crown wasn't built as a grand palace but it became a theatre of the people. One of the earliest films screened there was 'Bhai Jan' (1945) starring Noor Jehan and Karan Dewan, followed soon after by 'Humayun' by Mehboob Khan. Its modest yet impactful presence stood the test of time for nearly eight decades.
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I would prefer not to comment on the eventual sale or business transition, as these remain private," said Mansoor Danish, the great-grandson of Md Hashim.
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Hashim and Yasin were prominent business figures in Bengal. The duo owned multiple properties in Kolkata, including in Chandni Chowk, Ganesh Chandra Avenue, Temple Street, and Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road. Their envelope printing press Ms M Hashim M Yasin was the first ever envelope manufacturer of India in 1932 and later they took part at the Mahamakam -All India Swadeshi Movement in 1933 Kumbakonam Festival for promoting Swadeshi enterprise.
"The enterprise won a gold medal for promoting the theme 'Ask for Indian, Seek Indian, Buy Indian, Be Indian, Buy Khadi and Relieve the Starving Millions'," Danish said.
One of the plausible reasons behind them entering the cinema business was a passion for cinema and community. According to Danish, the name 'Cinema Hall of Janab Hashim Chandni Wale' was a nod to the influence of Hashim, also the vice-president of the Md Sporting Club, in the Chandni Chowk area.
"My great grandfather also served as a Justice of Peace and councillor for the Calcutta Municipal Corporation for the Bowbazar ward.
He had a close relationship with BC Roy, the then chief minister of West Bengal. The name for the stretch Chandni Chowk was proposed by him," Danish added.
In 1975, Crown was revamped into a fully AC theatre with a 35 mm screen and a seating capacity of 984. 'Rafoo Chakkar' was the first film to screen post-renovation.
What made Crown unique was its policy that mandated that no film would be shown for more than a week irrespective of how big a hit it was. "Yet nearly every Dilip Kumar film was screened there. In the 1980s, 'Qurbani' drew huge crowds. In the 1990s, 'Bombay' became a sensation.
And over the years, Crown welcomed an entire era of Shah Rukh and Salman Khan blockbusters. "In 2018, I took over the responsibility of managing Crown's final years. By 2022, with changing audience habits and industry realities, I oversaw the cinema's dignified closure — ensuring our staff was treated fairly and all liabilities cleared," Danish said.