Living in the city of Delhi is a long stroll with two different time periods on either side. The quintessential image of Delhi would have a newly-opened dhaba right below a gigantic pillar of the Delhi metro, with passengers marvelling at neo-colonial architecture, while a Mughal gumbad [tomb] looks down at all of this like a grand old matriarch.
The heritage of this city is held well within its cinema halls as well, some abandoned by viewers, while some others have transformed to suit their ever-changing tastes. Right from the 1930s, Delhi’s cinema halls have witnessed the advent of the show business: from being restricted to the elite class, towards its slow percolation in the minds of the masses. I walked around some of these areas to capture the contrast of the scurrying crowds of 21st century with the luxurious pride of a bygone era.
Mitsu is studying political science at Delhi University. She takes interest in art, literature, politics and loitering around her city. She is on Instagram at miitsusahay.
