12/02/2020
“Chitra” : Calcutta`s New Cinema
Opened by the Hon`ble Mayor Mr.Subhas Chandra Bose
On the 19th December, 1930, the Mayor of Calcutta Mr.Subhas Chandra Bose, performed the opening ceremony of “Chitra” – a new Cinema House on Cornwallis Street erected by Mr.B.N.Sircar. In the course of his speech the Mayor laid stress on the great necessity of indigenous films reflecting the imaginative genius and creative energy of the nation.
There was a distinguished gathering on the occasion which included Sir R.N.Mukherjee, Sir C.C.Ghose, Sir P.L.Buckland, Mr.N.N.Sircar, Advocate-General, Messrs.JusticesM.N.Mukherjee, S.N.Guha, D.N.Mitter. The Hon`ble B.B.Ghosh, Messrs.Sarat Chandra Bos, D.C.Ghosh, A.K.Roy, Standing Councel, SushilSen, S.N.Banerjee,S.C.Basu, S.C.Kumar, S.N.Halder,Mrs.Halder, Dr. and Mrs. B.N.Dey, Councillor Monmohan Mukherjee, Rai BahadurJaldharSen, Mr. Ratan.J.Madan and Prof. K.N.Sen.
On arrival, the Mayor was greeted with cries of “BandeMataram”. He was received at the gate by Messrs. B.N.Sircar, who garlanded the Mayor and conducted him to the Operator`s room, where he addressed the gathering on the microphone.
Hon`ble Mayor`s Speech
The Mayor, in the course of His speech, said :-
“Probably you are aware that it seldom falls to my lot to go to a cinema. During the last few years, I had been to the cinema on several occasions and on each occasion I did so only to witness some indigenous films. The cinema house and the film that will be shown are a testimony to the imaginative genius of our nation and its creative energy and enterprise.
You are already aware through whose efforts and by whose money, this Show House has been built and you also know that ‘Srikanta’ a production of our distinguished novelist, Sj. Sarat Chandra Chatterji, will be the first picture to be shown here. I hope ‘Chitra’ will not only bear testimony to the genius of our people for creative art and to our enterprise but will also reflect the complex beauty, grandeur and strength of Srikanta`s character.
Our cinema houses have a crowded audience today. Most often the films are useless, even harmful. But the cinema habit, the cinema taste have come to stay. The point then is how to make cinemas useful, how to turn them to good account.
You know, how in other countries of the world, especially in Russia, the cinema is utilised for educative purposes. Unfortunately, the Board of Censors in this country cannot realise the needs and aspirations of the nation and so cannot judge the standard required. It would very much facilitate the growth of the Film Industry in this country, if we could get a Board, which understands our taste and has imaginative sympathy for our aspirations and needs.
It is the duty of our countrymen to help the growth of cinema as a national industry. It is a great pleasure to note that attempts are being made in this direction among us the Bengalees. I hope, it will grow up, in keeping with our needs and aspirations, and I request you all to help the builders of the House by your kind suggestions and sympathetic criticism. I now declare the Show House open.”
There were then some demonstrations of highly interesting well-chosen pieces of talkie films, after which the guests were treated to light refreshments.
The beautiful House, built in oriental style, has a spacious auditorium, with accommodation for eight hundred people. Quite in keeping with the facade the interior has a delightful artistic atmosphere about it with a beautiful frieze depicting the danseuses of Indra`s Court designed by Mr.Charu Roy and executed By Netai C. Pal of Ahireetola.
Courtesy: The Calcutta Municipal Gazette, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Birth Centenary Number
