Delite-fully Old School: Renovated and Royal Delite Cinema

 

 

Before multiplexes came into being {and there WAS such a time, believe you us}, Delite Cinema was the go-to theatre for all movie buffs. The first big hall to get air-conditioning, and ample seating and cheap tickets – there was little reason to not head here for blockbuster weekends. Delite has faithfully served people since 1954 and continues to till this day, especially now that it has upped the ante with renovations and a food court.

Visited by distinguished personalities like Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, S.Radhakrishnan, Dr. Zakir Hussein, the Kapoor Family, Madhubala, SRK and more, this theatre has been renovated to make it a complete experience. It has maintained its look of heritage while investing in some state-of-the-art equipment, including a Dolby Atmos sound system {SO much better for 3D movie experiences}. It has two theatres – Delite and Delite Diamond, and the latter is a day-visit in itself. The screen looks like a Darbar Hall with a hand painted dome. You almost feel like royalty when seated in those brocade seats. The Belgian crystal handles on the door, handcrafted Egyptian carpet, Czech chandeliers and wooden carvings have completely awed us.

The prices are among the many things that  keep bringing us back to Delite, with tickets starting at INR 70. Not to forget the food – Delite offers french fries, chuski, and of course popcorn, but we recommend the Maha Samosa. If you want to indulge yourself further, there’s a food court serving South and North Indian food. And if you want a family lunch after the matinee, Bhaja Govindam is right next door. Coming next friday then?