As digital projectors slowly replace traditional, analog ones, film projectionists have become obsolete

There was a time when a film projectionist could make or break the fortune of a cinema theatre.

While the hallowed grounds of projection rooms were where celluloid film rolls whirred into action, bringing to the screens movie magic, the projectionist was the gatekeeper who ensured the show went on without a hitch.

But not anymore.

As digital projectors continue to replace the traditional, analog ones in most theatres across the world, film projectionists have simply been made obsolete.

The few, remaining ones in the city, such as 63-year-old P.S. Mohamad Mohideen Khan who has been projecting images for the past 44 years, feel the death of film projection will diminish the awe and magic of cinema.

Mr. Khan, who now works at the second-tier Srinivasa theatre in West Mambalam, developed an interest in the projected image as a child. He says, “As a young boy, I used to pass light through the film and project the image on to a screen.”

He then went on to work at several theatres, most of which, he says, have been turned into ‘car sheds or garages’.

The phasing-out of film projectors altered the cinema-going experience of the younger generation.

“The big bulky projectors could kindle the curiosity of the audience when they entered a cinema hall. Visiting the so-called projector room was a part of the movie-going experience. It is not there anymore,” says Mr. Khan.

He says it was no easy job: a projectionist had to be alert all the time and it involved hard labour.

“It was a tough job, no doubt about that. One had to monitor how the images were projected on the screen all the time. If the carbon arc burnt too close to the film, it could make the images on the screen dark,” he says.

These days, Mr. Khan operates both digital projectors and the analog, British-made Westrex that uses a Zenon bulb.

What does he think of the future of cinema projection? “Where should it go further? It has already come down to pushing a button to play the film,” he says.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Udhav Nag / August 13th, 2014

Celebrations on dry riverbed at many places in Delta region

A large number of men and women offered worship to the Cauvery at the various bathing ghats in various parts of the district on Sunday on the occasion of Aadi Perukku. They took a holy dip in the river and performed a special puja as a mark of thanksgiving to the river which ensures their prosperity.

At the Ammamandapam bathing ghat, people started taking the holy dip even as early as 4 p.m. and performed their puja to the river. Newly married couple offered their marriage garlands as part of their prayer.

The lively current in the river delighted the devotees, particularly those who had come from adjoining districts of Ariyalur, Perambalur, and Pudukottai.

They lit camphor and offered coconuts after the holy dip.

A coordinated and comprehensive arrangement by various government departments and service organisations facilitated the smooth conduct of the festival. A team of 12 Fire and Rescue Services personnel, led by M. Melchioraja, Station Officer, Srirangam, said that a close vigil was kept on the safety of the devotees and youths as the water level was on the rise.

Police personnel, led by Kabilan, Assistant Commissioner, Srirangam, regulated the queues at the bathing ghat. Divers were drafted to duty to meet any emergency.

The Tiruchirapalli City Corporation made adequate arrangements for the immediate collection of clothes and saris and immediately cleared it from the spot. A large number of men and women were seen offering the clothes shortly after the holy dip.

In Thiruvayaru

With no water in the Cauvery, people celebrated Aadi Perukku festival in the dry riverbed at Thiruvaiyaru near Thanjavur.

A borewell was drilled by local authorities and people used the water coming out of it. But most of the people offered the worship in dry sand and a fleet of steps of the river. Although the Public Works Department released 2,500 cusecs of water into the Cauvery from the Grand Anicut, it did not reach Thiruvaiyaru and other places. Water was not released into the Grand Anicut canal as construction work is going on at many places. People celebrated the festival with stagnant water in Vennar near drinking water pumping station near Thanjavur.

But lack of water had not dampened the spirit of people. They gathered at bathing ghats and offered worship. Children pulled toy cars.

Veerasenan, a farmer of Pattukottai, said that the PWD should have completed the construction work ahead of Aadi Perukku festival. “Now people have no water in most of the rivers to celebrated Aadi Perukku festival. This is condemnable,” he said.

Aadi Perukku is celebrated on the 18th day of Tamil month of Aadi to welcome fresh water in the river. It is an irony that people had to celebrate the festival in dry sand.

In Karur

Thousands of devotees thronged along the Cauvery bed in different parts of the Karur district to celebrate the annual festival of Aadi Perukku.

Heavy crowd was seen in Mayanur, Lalapet, Kulithalai, Vangal, Nerur, and Thirumukkudal to perform special puja. Besides taking a holy dip, the newly wedded brides’ took the opportunity to replace the “mangalsutra” with new one. They distributed “prasadams” to each others.

(With inputs from M. Balaganessin in Tiruchi, G. Srinivasan in Thanjavur and C. Jaisankar in Karur)

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Tamil Nadu / by Tiruchi Bureau / Tiruchi – August 03rd, 2014