Bollywood movie runs 500 weeks in same theater !

byronic · May 16th, 2005, 12:27

This past week, the all time Hindi movie hit Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (DDLJ) has been running for a record breaking 500 weeks in the same theater in Mumbai. The movie theater, the Maratha Mandir that has been showing DDLJ, is located near the state transport bus stand. Since October 1995 the movie has been showing daily at the Maratha Mandir. It is a worlds record for the continuous showing of a single film at one theater. On week ends it still plays to packed houses. The theater has a capacity of 1017 seats.

IMHO the Maratha Mandir is the "Mecca" of Bollywood. Centrally located the theater appeals to the working class. much of the audience on week days is made up of porters from the bus terminal and travelers waiting for their transport. Tickets are reasonable, starting at Rs 20.

"The enthusiastic viewers who've been flocking to the theatre are mostly porters from the nearby Mumbai Central station, where there is a lull in the arrivals and departures of trains during daytime. Says Raja Ghorpade, one of the porters, "My friends and I come to watch this film at least once a week. It is so relaxing and a good 'time pass'. I think we must have watched DDLJ more than 60 times."

http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory...ntent_id=10398

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/200...trum/main8.htm

Everyone in the theater knows DDLJ by heart (well who in their right desi mind doesn't?) "Even now, the classic moments, though firmly a part of the audience's consciousness, evoke hysteria. The crowd in the theatre is perfectly aware when Shah Rukh Khan is going to make his rugby-playing entry, but there is still feverish applause as he does. Ditto for Kajol's blissful dancing in the rain to Lata Mangeshkar singing Mere khwabon mein jo aaye. The theatre erupts with ecstatic whistles. Everyone knows the dialogues by heart. Bits like 'Bade bade desho mein chhoti chhoti baatein hoti rehti hain (in big countries, little things keep happening)' are met with loud yells of happy recognition. "

http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2005/may/05ddlj2.htm

Yes this is Bollywood at its best

Bravo for DDLJ !!! Just talking about it makes me want to watch it again, for the 12348561926459 time.

.[i]

Bigzero · May 16th, 2005, 13:33

wow. spare a thought for the projector operator....

crvlvr · May 16th, 2005, 22:54

Is this a world record?

cyberhippie · May 16th, 2005, 23:40

A great film although it was the one that got my wife started with her facination for SRK, I'm just another bloke in her life these days!!
500 showings amazing!!

Hyderabadi · May 16th, 2005, 23:48

Am I right in thinking 'although' is the key word here?

machadinha · May 16th, 2005, 23:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by crvlvr

Is this a world record?

The Rocky Horror Picture Show might well take the credit for that, although I'm having trouble finding any stats on how long it ran in any one theater non-stop. It says here somewhere it ran in Austin, Texas for 22 years (1144 weeks). 500's Certainly an achievement though.

Funny thing is RHPS was a total flop on release.

crvlvr · May 17th, 2005, 00:41

I found the world recordholder from the Guinness Book website:

Longest First-Run of a Film in One Cinema
Romance in Lushan (China, 1980) first opened at the Jiangxi Movie Circulation and Screening Company in Lushan, China, on July 12, 1980, and has be shown daily four times a day since then.

byronic · May 17th, 2005, 00:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by crvlvr

I found the world recordholder from the Guinness Book website:

Longest First-Run of a Film in One Cinema
Romance in Lushan (China, 1980) first opened at the Jiangxi Movie Circulation and Screening Company in Lushan, China, on July 12, 1980, and has be shown daily four times a day since then.

I thought that DDLJ was the longest running, but I see this movie in China takes the cake (damn those Chinese, they are competing with India in EVERYTHING

Rocky Horror has been playing at a theater for 20 something years, but only on weekends.

DDLJ plays at this theater morning, afternoon, and evening, 7 days a week. Imagine the wear and tear the film print has taken?!?!?! The print must be in tatters.

When I am in Mumbai next year I am going to go for a showing at this theater, just to say I went

.

machadinha · May 17th, 2005, 01:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by byronic

When I am in Mumbai next year I am going to go for a showing at this theater, just to say I went

Sounds like a Mumbai meeting coming up...

dani · May 17th, 2005, 01:59

wait till fall next year, and I'll join you

in the meantime, where the hell have I put my DDLJ copy??

SHIMLA · May 17th, 2005, 07:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyberhippie

A great film although it was the one that got my wife started with her facination for SRK, I'm just another bloke in her life these days!!

Didn't it start your fascination for Kajol ?

Theon · May 17th, 2005, 08:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by byronic

When I am in Mumbai next year I am going to go for a showing at this theater, just to say I went

I got to see it in Mumbai a couple months back only because I had some time to kill before my bus! Thank-you waiter for recommending it to me! It was amazing to see all those people watching a 10 year old movie, laughing at the jokes and cheering at the climax as if for the first time.

Paagla Dashu · May 17th, 2005, 10:44

King Khan rules!

Though I wish his kingdom did not include my household!

I sympathise with cyberhippie, being in the same boat. My job is to get the film tickets, buy the popcorn and to get the DVDs when they come out.

byronic · May 18th, 2005, 10:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theon

I got to see it in Mumbai a couple months back only because I had some time to kill before my bus! Thank-you waiter for recommending it to me! It was amazing to see all those people watching a 10 year old movie, laughing at the jokes and cheering at the climax as if for the first time.

Theon, you are my Hero Of The Week for actually having seen DDLJ in this theater. Bravo !!!

I hope to do the same on my trip to Mumbai next year !

NeeliAankhen · Apr 4th, 2007, 00:54

that is my question - has anybody had this experience recently? I know it's still playing.

Is it still on several times a day? and what was the crowd like?

Also - if you know of any other "special" Bollywood-movie-viewing events in India, please post. (Like the theatre in Jaipur someone mentioned where lights flash around the screen when a song comes on.)

May 16th, 2005, 12:27	#1
byronic back in the ussa Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Rang De Basantistan or Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 437	Bollywood movie runs 500 weeks in same theater ! This past week, the all time Hindi movie hit Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (DDLJ) has been running for a record breaking 500 weeks in the same theater in Mumbai. The movie theater, the Maratha Mandir that has been showing DDLJ, is located near the state transport bus stand. Since October 1995 the movie has been showing daily at the Maratha Mandir. It is a worlds record for the continuous showing of a single film at one theater. On week ends it still plays to packed houses. The theater has a capacity of 1017 seats. IMHO the Maratha Mandir is the "Mecca" of Bollywood. Centrally located the theater appeals to the working class. much of the audience on week days is made up of porters from the bus terminal and travelers waiting for their transport. Tickets are reasonable, starting at Rs 20. "The enthusiastic viewers who've been flocking to the theatre are mostly porters from the nearby Mumbai Central station, where there is a lull in the arrivals and departures of trains during daytime. Says Raja Ghorpade, one of the porters, "My friends and I come to watch this film at least once a week. It is so relaxing and a good 'time pass'. I think we must have watched DDLJ more than 60 times." http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory...ntent_id=10398 http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/200...trum/main8.htm Everyone in the theater knows DDLJ by heart (well who in their right desi mind doesn't?) "Even now, the classic moments, though firmly a part of the audience's consciousness, evoke hysteria. The crowd in the theatre is perfectly aware when Shah Rukh Khan is going to make his rugby-playing entry, but there is still feverish applause as he does. Ditto for Kajol's blissful dancing in the rain to Lata Mangeshkar singing Mere khwabon mein jo aaye. The theatre erupts with ecstatic whistles. Everyone knows the dialogues by heart. Bits like 'Bade bade desho mein chhoti chhoti baatein hoti rehti hain (in big countries, little things keep happening)' are met with loud yells of happy recognition. " http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2005/may/05ddlj2.htm Yes this is Bollywood at its best Bravo for DDLJ !!! Just talking about it makes me want to watch it again, for the 12348561926459 time. .[i]

May 16th, 2005, 13:33	#2
Bigzero back to my old ways Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,416	wow. spare a thought for the projector operator.... __________________ miles to go.... Bigzero's Photo Gallery

Apr 4th, 2007, 00:54	#15
NeeliAankhen Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New York, NY USA Posts: 268	Maratha Mandir - DDLJ - anyone been recently? that is my question - has anybody had this experience recently? I know it's still playing. Is it still on several times a day? and what was the crowd like? Also - if you know of any other "special" Bollywood-movie-viewing events in India, please post. (Like the theatre in Jaipur someone mentioned where lights flash around the screen when a song comes on.)

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May 16th, 2005, 22:54	#3
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hollywood Posts: 4,303	Is this a world record?

May 16th, 2005, 23:40	#4
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,014	A great film although it was the one that got my wife started with her facination for SRK, I'm just another bloke in her life these days!! 500 showings amazing!!

May 16th, 2005, 23:48	#5
Hyderabadi Maha Guru Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: GA,USA. Posts: 1,051	Am I right in thinking 'although' is the key word here?

May 17th, 2005, 00:41	#7
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hollywood Posts: 4,303	I found the world recordholder from the Guinness Book website: Longest First-Run of a Film in One Cinema Romance in Lushan (China, 1980) first opened at the Jiangxi Movie Circulation and Screening Company in Lushan, China, on July 12, 1980, and has be shown daily four times a day since then.

May 17th, 2005, 01:59	#10
dani मेरा नाम दान्येल है Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Switzerland Posts: 486	wait till fall next year, and I'll join you in the meantime, where the hell have I put my DDLJ copy??

May 17th, 2005, 10:44	#13
Paagla Dashu Unreasonably Unreasonable Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Where They Wear Clogs Posts: 1,223	King Khan rules! Though I wish his kingdom did not include my household! I sympathise with cyberhippie, being in the same boat. My job is to get the film tickets, buy the popcorn and to get the DVDs when they come out.

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