The Dilapidated Glory

The old rickety wooden door, the damped walls, the cracked paints on the walls, the unwanted creepers and the excreta of the animals, now, defines Globe Theatre, Ranikhet.

The decaying colonel- era theatre welcomes you at the entrance of the KRC (Kumaon Regimental Centre) Museum tucked into the heart of Kumaon mountains. While producing my identity card to the officer on duty, out of curiosity and compelled by the profession, I asked about the history of the museum.

“This colonel-era building was built in 1886. A private contractor wanted to demolish the theatre but was stopped by the army. The only rules applies here are of army,” said the army man.

Ironically, the building behind the theatre is a clean swanky museum maintained by the Kumaon Regimental Centre (KRC), the main army establishment in Ranikhet.  The museum is a long, dimly lit underground chamber sunk beneath a memorial garden dedicated to the Kumaon regiment’s decorated officers.

Surrounded by the well-maintained army buildings, the globe theatre suffered from untouchability, brushed aside by the government and the army. I was stuck in incongruity- the negligence of the army and the government has left the age-old theatre into ruins.

Abandoned theatre named on the William Shakespeare’s dreamland, has witnessed many great plays. “The theatre is quite old. I have grown watching plays in the theatre. The artist from across the globe had performed here. After the invasion of cinema, the theatre was converted into a cinema hall. Amitabh Bachchan was then hot cake,” said Amardeo Rawat, an 86-year-old resident of Ranikhet.

The ticket counter, years back witnessed houseful shows, is now deserted. The cracked- faded poster of Shahenshah(1988) on the wall and Bachchan written in bold letters speak much about the last movie screened in this theatre. The only perfectly visible face on the poster was of Pran and Amrish Puri. The building still follows the rules painted on the wall.

The comfy seats have turned into junkies- rusted and broken into pieces. The theatre, divided into classes and balcony reminded me of the theatres in my hometown. Being a kid of 90s, I am familiar to the rules and the sitting arrangements of the old build theatre.

Globe theatre, back in 1886 was well equipped. The ripped sound system, the cracked screen and tatty lights advertise the infrastructure of the theatre. What have the state done to one of the oldest theatre of the country? Why neither the army nor the government took initiative to maintain the age-old tradition of our country called Cinema/Theatre?