I remember the thrill of touring talkies coming to our village every year during the fair, some thirty or forty years ago. Back then, with no TV or other entertainment, these travelling cinemas were a major attraction. Mostly showcasing mythological or family-friendly movies, they brought excitement and crowds with their loud advertisements. Even beyond the fair, hundreds of these talkies crisscrossed the countryside, their large tents offering shelter no matter the weather.
Then came the age of television. Convenient access to any movie, along with dedicated movie channels, slowly chipped away at touring talkies' popularity. Their numbers dwindled in the villages, and today, a mere 64 operate in Maharashtra. Urban areas offer even less interest, with those hundreds of old reduced to a handful.
Running a touring talkie is a struggle. Electricity bills, taxes, workers' wages, rent, and a recent ban on nighttime games all bite into their profits. A fee of 18,000 to 25,000 rupees for just 28 shows paints a bleak picture.
A proposal for an annual subsidy offers a glimmer of hope. The government can further support these living pieces of cinema history by placing advertisements with them. Touring talkies are valuable repositories of a simpler cinematic era, and their preservation is a shared responsibility. By providing the necessary help, the government and we, the audience, can ensure that this unique art form survives and thrives in the villages it once delighted.
