POLLY THE USHER

A couple of months back after a drinks session, me and my brother  reminisced about our good old summer holidays, where watching a movie in the theatre was one of the mandatory part. We use to be a complete movie buff. Rushing fast in the morning in order not to miss a matinee show, because matinee shows were cost effective. When it comes to theatre who can forget the good old heritage theatres of south Bombay like the Opera House, Metro, Roxy, Strand and Capitol. We use to be aghast sometimes by viewing a huge queue only for matinee shows. The fights for winning either Balcony or stall seats were itself a kind of battle. There use to be a mood of disappointment when the placard of HOUSEFULL use to be kept on the ticket window. The session was later on interrupted with one question my brother came up with. “Hey, do you know Polly Uncle?  Who uses to allow us from the back door and make a room for us in Balcony”. “Yeah, I know” was my answer. Well, there was a gap of a decade since we met Keka uncle. Polly Uncle topic created a curiosity in my mind regarding his whereabouts.

Pallonji Dubash, aka Polly and Polly uncle also. He was an Usher in one of the oldest South Bombay cinema called the Capitol. Polly uncle was well known for his good sense of humor. His knowledge of Bollywood and Hollywood classic movies was extraordinary. He always lived his life  like a king size. Those days there were only Parsi people working in theatres, whether it would be a projector operator, the caterer at the canteen or an usher. My curiosity was increasing more every day to find where our good old Polly uncle is?. I use to recollect that Polly uncle use to stay at Kerawala Mansion near dhobi talao , a town side of Bombay. Still, there are many old Parsees staying out there. I once happen to make a visit on Sunday towards South Bombay, and as I was having no restriction on time I decided to investigate about Polly uncle. I don’t know whether  he would recollect me now as it has been almost so many years since we met him. The old stairs of Kerawala Mansion welcomed me by showcasing the cracks in it. We use to make thumping sounds on those wooden stairs and ring a bell in any of the unknown flats and run away. Those nasty days of our childhood when we use to visit Polly uncle's house rarely during Pateti. My good memory instructed  me to ring the right doorbell, but unfortunately it was not working, I knocked the door to find out someone's presence inside.  A thin old  lady responded with a blunt look “What do you want”? . Polly uncle is there I asked her. When I entered in the room was untidy and stink was horrible, but my curiosity to meet Polly uncle never allowed me to take myself back. Polly uncle was watching a cricket match on TV . Who is there? .. Polly uncle its me … He took a view of mine from his large spectacles. Oh my dear son, how are you, where the fuck you were, long time no see. Polly uncle was very happy to see me after a long time. A alone man who was a bachelor for him it was like some family member paying him a visit. Sit down you asshole.. Now you remembered your Polly uncle, why do you need tickets for a movie now. Sorry, but now I can't help you. Everything is closed. I laughed and said no uncle, I am here to pay you a visit. No dear, I know, thanks for that. Let's have a beer. I will get it  for you. London Pilsner for me. Polly uncle's favorite beer was London Pilsner. The happiness by watching a fizz of beer lifted a joyful facial expression on Polly Uncle's face. After gulping down one bottle , he was in a mood to refurbish his old memories.

What kind of a movie these generations are watching, nonsense and idiotic. I said uncle it’s the change in generation. I know time changes the human spell these days were so lovely when we were having an affair or I can say falling in love with Cinema. Tell me something more uncle, I wanted to know about your good old days. I wanted to have some understanding on how the old Indian cinemas use to operate these days. Polly uncle's career started in 1960 working at the Strand cinema as a Projector operator. Those days everything was manual nothing was automated , the projector reel use to come in a very small quantity as distributors were limited. Times there were Cinema Carbons Known as Positive and negative. The operator strikes both of them. A flame is created ( it can harm the eyes as it was very powerful, cause then the light is created for the movie. Now only one bulb is used. We would continuously monitor this sound, where as now everything is recorded.. There were no Air conditioning as lots of theatre had only fans. 

It was a painful process for the operators. The reels had to be changed after intervals. A small technical defect and a huge chaos from the audience. But he enjoyed that stint of 5 years as an operator. He worked in many theatres for so many years. Few more gulps of beer and then he started mimicking the stars. I never knew he was so talented enough. Obviously, when you are watching the same movie three times a day and that also for continuous seven days you can easily copy , but that too requires a talent. Tell me some good incidents Polly uncle, which you have faced during your tenure as Usher. Polly uncle was an Usher in many theatres like Diana , Apasara , Opera House and then finally Capitol. He laughed loudly and narrated few incidents.

Once a well know star Dilip Kumar wanted to watch a Hollywood movie “Countess from Hongkong” starring beautiful, magnificent Sophia Lauren, this movie was directed by good old legendary comedian Charlie Chaplin wherein he also enacted for a small scene in this movie. There was a whistling when Charlie appeared on the screen. The movie was housefull and so Dilip Kumar requested so badly to our management to make a room for him if possible. A star and heartthrob of those days were sounding like a common man when he was asking for a ticket. Those days Stars were not carrying a heavy ego and attitude with them, they were all down to earth. He also recollected that those days Cabret queen Helen use to book the complete row, so that no one sits beside her . But she was quite generous enough to the audience and never thrown that attitude. They were more beautiful human beings than they were the onscreen actors. After few more gulps of beer, Polly uncle narrated a story of a grand night premier of the movie where he met with all the successful stars and directors of those days and I was completely astonished when he told me that these stars use to treat the entire staff of the theatres with Cold drinks , snacks and ice creams. Today the trend is changed , everyone is the star no one is a good human being. 

Apart from the stars they were many incidents which he came across, the modes of different life cycle he saw in the auditorium . Everyone had some story with them. An older retired couple mellowing down themselves watching a movie, a fighting couple blaming each other for not getting a proper seat. A loving couple caught in a washroom, a Bachelor, a Group of youngsters. There use to be instances where the music of the movie was complete enough making a business. The tickets were bought the audience use to come in a, watch the song and leave. Every Sunday there use to be Tom and Jerry movies and there was an aroma of happiness among the few children who use to get the tickets and dome of disappointment among those children who missed out by not getting the tickets. There was a roar of loud crying outside the theatre and then the consolation from their mothers.

The beer was finished, I saw a tear in Polly Uncle's eyes. There was a silence for a few minutes. I took a pause . “ I Lived my life in theatre , I loved theatre it was a second home and the members were my family , no one is there now. The seats are lying impatiently now waiting that someone can throw a light on them again. Everything is gone with the wind. I am all alone now nothing left with me accept my good old memories which will stay in my mind like a fresh flowers. My torch is my favorite souvenir which I got from this industry. Its been years I have stepped in the theatre. Now the entrance fees is so heavy that it pushes me back. I have lived with the movies and I will die one day watching a movie”. The Polly Uncle statement was very true.

We love watching movies in theatres and that love has today became more expensive. That love doesn’t have that excitement of waiting for long hours, that love doesn’t have excitement of fighting to get it. Today this love is just step close by few clicks on the Internet. Today there is no more fighting between the couples for a seat. Today there is no danger in operating a projector. But today being everything at ease do we still miss those days of watching movies in theatres???