Hemant Chaturvedi, it would seem, revels in shining a light on people frequently left in the shadows or arriving at places that have been left behind. After turning his back on the Hindi film industry and television where he was a highly regarded cinematographer eight years ago, he photographed British-era cemeteries across India, made a documentary on veteran cinematographers (Chhayaankan, 2021), captured 55 retired faculty members for a portrait series on the 150th anniversary of his alma mater, Mumbai's St. Xavier's College, and then, there's this ongoing, pan-Indian single-screen theatre project that is the subject of our discussion over a video call. "Yes, it would seem that I'm the guy, you know, racing the demolition team or the Grim Reaper, so to speak, to a particular place.
But it's not deliberate, it just happened, this gravitating towards people or places that are on the brink of erasure," says Chaturvedi who has filmed, among others, Company (2002), Maqbool (2003). and Brothers (2015) as also, shows like Rendezvous with Simi Garewal and Kaun Banega Crorepati.
Chaturvedi's latest project teed off in 2019, with Lakshmi Talkies, in Allahabad, a theatre built in the 1940s that was on the verge of being demolished. Since then, he has driven over 35,000 kilometres in his Force Gurkha 4X4 around the country, unearthing cinemas with streamlined Art Deco facades and forlorn, crumbling interiors, picking up echoes of the participatory process that was once part of the movie-theatre experience; and meeting a phalanx of characters with grand tales to tell of an age in which owning a cinema was a matter of prestige.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Most Expensive Made-In-India Cars
From Mercedes limousines to variants of the flagship Land Rover, a surprising number of luxury flagship models are now locally assembled or produced in India
Making Noise In Quiet
Manik Handa of Eudaemon explains what it truly takes to define quiet luxury in India’s crowded retail market
Luggage Travails of a Frequent Flyer
Luxury and semi-luxury luggage are the new fashion frontier amongst the Indian jet set. Our writer though recommends extreme caution, unless you are the kind who can afford to fly in private jets
Ruling The Street
Either through imitation or rejection, streetwear continues to dominate the wardrobe of young India. We talk to those who follow the scene closely to understand its rise in status
Street Cred
Royal Enfield’s Guerrilla 450 is a thoroughly fun and exciting motorcycle—it is not that the Himalayan has just tidied up for a visit to the city
Now Serving.Indigenous India
India's culinary scene is buzzing with a quiet revolution, fueled by a vibrant comeback of hyperlocal ingredients. This movement isn't just about digging up fresh, local produce from across the nation—it's about rediscovering the deep, rich tapestry of India's diverse culinary heritage
CHAITANYA AKKINENI OF OLD LOVES AND NEW
The Akkineni-Daggubati family scion is starting a new phase, and life is looking more exciting than ever
Independence Movement
As we step into India's 77th year of Independence, we're shining the spotlight on four stunning timepieces, all designed from within the nation's borders
Precision in Motion
How Alain Zobrist and Omega Time the Olympics
The New Frontier
While India witnesses a massive growth in the number of global skincare brands entering the market, an increasing number of homegrown brands takeover the space and trust among consumers