Cinema Paradiso (Shop Closed)

After many unending debates on left vs.right, back vs. front, up vs. down etc. the world was torn apart with the debate whether watching movies is better on the bigger screen or on the smaller one - theatre vs. video tapes/VCDs. Eventually, the world decided it had better things to do. So, while the debate is still on, VCDs have graduated to DVDs and small screens to Plasma-monsters.

Cinema Paradiso is a store dedicated to this evolution of cinema. It has DVDs and one very awesome 52-inch Plasma-screen. Mentioned up-front because it's a reporting rule to give away facts ASAP. So, fundamentally, Cinema Paradiso is a DVD rental store.

The store is an ultra-urbane outlet with swanky interiors. A cinephile would not dream of leaving this place empty-handed. Loaded with licensed DVDs (apparently the first store in India to get the required licenses), Cinema Paradiso automatically overtakes every other outlet renting out DVDs in town.

The sections involved are enough to make you hungry: Action/Adventure, Classics, Comedy, Drama, Horror, Kids/Family, Hindi, Music DVDs, Romance, Suspense/Thriller, Special Interest, World Cinema, Coming Soon and Games.

Spread over 1000 feet, these 2500 DVDs include classics like: 2001 Space Odessy, Casablanca, Gold Rush, Breakfast At Tiffany's, Lawrence Of Arabia, and other equally fantastic and celebrated cinema. They also have a crisp collection of modern day classics like: Friday The 13th, Liar Liar, Legends Of The Fall, Boys Don't Cry and Castaway.

Apart from cinema, they also have some music and game DVDs but these sections look like they're still under construction.

The DVDs are rented out only for the members. Membership will cost you Rs. 3,000 of which 2,000 is caution deposit (read refundable, in your dreams). There's a special corporate package that costs you 1,000 rupees less. It's a joint membership deal. The rent for 1 DVD is Rs. 100 for 3 days (world cinema) and Rs. 75 for 3 days (English cinema).

There's a magazine corner that has the latest issues of popular reads like Variety, Screen, and Vanity Fair. There's also a facility to check your email for free. All this, only for the members, of course.

But the highlights of the place (expectedly, of the city also) are the mini-theatre and the hall of fame. The mini-theatre has a seating capacity for 11, snugly sofas and all. The engineers used by A. R. Rahman have checked the surround sound for the place, and the screen is a lovable 52-ich Plasma-flatron. You can book it for Rs. 1,000 for a screening, and can get popcorn absolutely free!

The other show-stealer is the hall of fame, which will have handprints of loved personalities starting with the Megastar himself.

The store is owned by Santhosh, a cinematographer involved with movies like Ghost And The Darkness, Rush Hour and Sphere. Taking lead from Taurantino, he started a store in Chennai and now, in our neighbourhood. It's only due course of time when the membership of Paradiso will be a status symbol. That due course of time is somewhere, er, now.