A lot of single screen cinemas in Delhi are losing out on their heritage tag because all of them have opted for a makeover to survive the onslaught of multiplexes.
![With most of them shut down, the single screen theatres of Delhi are only left with their cinema history.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2022-07%2F8cb5db67-7b5e-4f7f-ae74-e4de39f4b55b%2F2_Shiela_was_the_first_70mm_theatre_to_be_established_in_India_.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
Shiela was the first 70mm theatre to be established in India.
(Photo Credit: Ribhu Chatterjee/The Quint)
![With most of them shut down, the single screen theatres of Delhi are only left with their cinema history.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2022-07%2F8f43e60b-e536-4bad-8c24-65a6f65eb08f%2F3_Murali_Rao__a_barber__has_been_working_outside_Sheila_for_five_years_now_.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
Murali Rao, a barber, has been working outside Sheila for five years now.
(Photo Credit: Ribhu Chatterjee/The Quint)
![With most of them shut down, the single screen theatres of Delhi are only left with their cinema history.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2022-07%2F57d4c441-7e88-4e3c-a738-21d67d0baef6%2F4_Ticket_counter_of_Sheila_theatre_.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
Ticket counter of Sheila theatre.
(Photo Credit: Ribhu Chatterjee/The Quint)
Delhi saw a decline of single screens in 1997 with the arrival of PVR Priya. Many were still operational but they kept losing the audience to modern multiplexes and eventually had to resort to showing B-grade films to survive.
![With most of them shut down, the single screen theatres of Delhi are only left with their cinema history.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2022-07%2F6954f0bc-df08-44c2-9964-87be09e01026%2F6_The_empty_seats_of_Moti_.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
The empty seats of Moti.
(Photo Credit: Ribhu Chatterjee/The Quint)
![With most of them shut down, the single screen theatres of Delhi are only left with their cinema history.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2022-07%2F4c969444-5b79-4a3a-bc4b-65cc8aca856a%2F7_Moti_Cinema_of_old_Delhi_.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
Moti Cinema of old Delhi.
(Photo Credit: Ribhu Chatterjee/The Quint)
![With most of them shut down, the single screen theatres of Delhi are only left with their cinema history.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2022-07%2F69b5b399-c06f-4696-8052-92914ca49f4b%2F8_In_the_last_few_years_Moti_was_only_screening_B_grade_films_.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
In the last few years, Moti was only screening B-grade films.
(Photo Credit: Ribhu Chatterjee/The Quint)
Moti was one of the oldest movie halls of Delhi, it was a place for Bhojpuri movie lovers. In 2013, due to low footfall, it was completely shut down and what remains now are its ruins.
![With most of them shut down, the single screen theatres of Delhi are only left with their cinema history.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2022-07%2F4822212e-fc76-4e52-b03b-551f08f8f5cd%2F5_Lalit_Sharma__the_current_caretaker_of_Moti_Hall.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
Lalit Sharma, the current caretaker of Moti Cinema.
(Photo Credit: Ribhu Chatterjee/The Quint)
![With most of them shut down, the single screen theatres of Delhi are only left with their cinema history.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2022-07%2Fc52cecce-fbc0-4a0f-a6f8-7d3a7bb86681%2F9_Ticket_Counter_of_Moti_Cinema_.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
Ticket counter of Moti Cinema.
(Photo Credit: Ribhu Chatterjee/The Quint)
Similar is the plight of Golcha Cinema. It has been shut for more than six years now and the last film screened here was Kahaani 2.
![With most of them shut down, the single screen theatres of Delhi are only left with their cinema history.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2022-07%2Ffcd06d33-eb00-42a6-89b4-e2bf3d9f188c%2F10_Golcha_cinema_in_Daryaganj_area_of_Delhi_.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
Golcha Cinema in Daryaganj area of Delhi.
(Photo Credit: Ribhu Chatterjee/The Quint)
Rajinder Kumar has worked here for more than 50 years now. He started his career as a carpet cleaner of the hall and now looks after the abandoned hall.
![With most of them shut down, the single screen theatres of Delhi are only left with their cinema history.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2022-07%2Ffd2890ee-86a6-4146-b499-1d19f5ddd5dc%2F11_The_ticket_counter_of_Golcha.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
The ticket counter of Golcha Cinema.
(Photo Credit: Ribhu Chatterjee/The Quint)
![With most of them shut down, the single screen theatres of Delhi are only left with their cinema history.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2022-07%2F459b1797-5069-497f-9040-bbb481bc5919%2F12_The_stage_of_the_Shalimar_Hall_.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
The stage of the Shalimar Hall.
(Photo Credit: Ribhu Chatterjee/The Quint)
![With most of them shut down, the single screen theatres of Delhi are only left with their cinema history.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2022-07%2F62ecd6c7-7ce0-4906-98d4-5233d75e9cf5%2F13_The_balcony_stairs_of_Shalimar_Cinema.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
The balcony stairs of Shalimar Cinema.
(Photo Credit: Ribhu Chatterjee/The Quint)
Another legendary theatre, Sheila, also failed to keep up with the modern times. Established in 1961, it was India’s first 70mm screen. Being close to the New Delhi railway station ensured that it always had an audience but then the COVID-19 lockdown changed everything.
The present caretaker who’s been working for two years said that the owner has no plans of reopening it.
![With most of them shut down, the single screen theatres of Delhi are only left with their cinema history.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2022-07%2F90931f57-5252-48c2-a0c0-6615b6afa7d3%2F14_Bleached_film_strips_in_Shalimar_Cinema.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
Bleached film strips in Shalimar Cinema
(Photo Credit: Ribhu Chatterjee/The Quint)
![With most of them shut down, the single screen theatres of Delhi are only left with their cinema history.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2022-07%2F1e5fbd3c-7976-4a1d-a14c-4146b6721650%2F15_The_entire_Shalimar_theatre_was_razed_to_ground_in_a_fire_.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
The entire Shalimar theatre was razed to the ground in a fire.
(Photo Credit: Ribhu Chatterjee/The Quint)
Regal, established in 1932, premiered the classic Gone With The Wind. It shut down in 2017 after screening Mera Naam Joker and Sangam. The owner has plans to convert it into a multiplex for which renovation work has already begun.
![With most of them shut down, the single screen theatres of Delhi are only left with their cinema history.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2022-07%2Fd0cca396-776e-4eba-a96d-c95f6c109dab%2F16_Regal_was_shut_down_in_2017_for_reinovation_.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
Regal was shut down in 2017 for renovation.
(Photo Credit: Ribhu Chatterjee/The Quint)
![With most of them shut down, the single screen theatres of Delhi are only left with their cinema history.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2022-07%2F5a243983-b13d-4c3e-8671-2b3a02854fb2%2F17_Regal_under_renovation_.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
Regal under renovation.
(Photo Credit: Ribhu Chatterjee/The Quint)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)