“Film mein hona chahiye love story, kuch emotional sa [A film should have a love story, something emotional],” says 36-year-old Shyam Singh, sitting in the foyer of Alfred Talkies, a single-screen movie theatre located in Mumbai’s Grant Road area. “Fighting and action scenes are okay, but I like a love story,” he adds grinning.
It is a sunny December afternoon and Shyam is waiting for the 3 p.m. show to begin. A hand-painted banner of blockbuster film, Ram Teri Ganga Maili hangs at the entrance of the building. This Bollywood hit, which released in 1985 nearly four decades ago, still pulls in a sizable crowd.
“Rozana 3 Khel” reads a signage in Hindi and Urdu at the entrance of Alfred Talkies, advertising the daily screening schedule of three shows – the first show at noon, the second at 3 p.m. and the last at 6 p.m.
“Humein movie dekhne ka shauk hai [I am fond of watching movies],” says Shyam, who migrated from Nepal to Mumbai three years ago in search of better wages.
“The tickets here at Alfred Talkies are cheap,” he says, “so we can come whenever we wish to.” A single ticket is sold for Rs. 35. “I do not earn enough to go to expensive theatres and watch films."
Shyam is a contract worker with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and works in catering – prepping ingredients for events, serving and cleaning up. He lives close to the Grant Road area and earns about Rs. 9,000 a month. His family continues to live in Butwal city in Nepal.


















