Crown, a 105-year-old non-operative cinema and some other pre-partition cinemas which have been pulled down are depressing for film-lovers of the city as they have their fond memories attached with these cinema houses. Imperial, the only cinema in Multan Cantt and Khayam, another old cinema on Old Khanewal Road, were demolished last year including Anjumun and Shalimar.
Located at Nawan Shehr Chowk, more than 60 years old Zenith cinema is also being demolished while Mehfil, Taj Mahal and Naushab have not been screening films since long which have been disappointing for cinema goers.
“The city had 20 cinemas in the past and families used to visit cinemas for watching films, but now only four cinemas-Rex, Capri and Dream Land are screening films regularly. Babar and Starlite cinemas have been converted into theatres,” said Cinema Association President Masood Arif Butt while talking to this agency on Monday.
Crown, one of the oldest cinemas of the city, was known as “Sitara Taki” in the past. Like some other cinemas, Crown is also not screening films since long depicting gloomy situation for film-lovers.
“When we made our optical shop in Multan Cantt in 1970, we saw Imperial cinema here. Perhaps, it was a pre-partition cinema. It was the only entertainment place for dwellers of the area. But Alas! Now it has been converted into a garments mall,” lamented Muhammad Wasim, who runs an optical shop in Cantt.
“Multan is a cultural city and it had several beautiful cinemas. I was very fond of films when I was young. Tickets were also cheap and films were superb either they were Urdu or Punjabi. Now, I don’t find good cinemas except a few in the city,” said Sheikh Ishfaq, another old cine-goer.
Several attempts were made to contact CEO Multan Cantonment, Malik Ishaq, through call and sms for his comment on the story, but he could not be reached.
At the moment there is no 3D cinema in Multan but under construction
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