1963 Moradabad, India

Aruna Singhal

Born 1947

Moradabad India

Interviewed on February 5, 2024

by Margot Lee

Translation by Bhavya Singhal and Anjali Mangala

What is the first movie you remember seeing?

I had seen several movies before 1960, but I do not clearly remember those, or in which grade I started seeing movies. Perhaps in Grade 7 or 8, but I do not remember. Mughal-e-Azam was the first movie I remember seeing in 1960. The part I remember was that although the movie was in black and white, the song—Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya—was in color. I was about 13 years old, in Grade 9.

Kan Kan mein Bhagwaan is the first movie that made a strong impression on me to be retained as a life-long memory. I saw that movie in 1963 when I was 16 years old.

What do you remember about Kan Kan mein Bhagwaan?

It was about God. The main story revolved around the fact that every single particle, water, food, everything has some form of God in it.

Were there particular characters or actors you remember?

There were a few main actors, but one main lead I remember. It was Mahipal.

What else can you remember about the story of the film?

The message was that everything reflects God, but even though it contains God, it’s not for Him. It’s for other people, not for Himself. The way they preached in the movie was through one main song—Nadiya nap iye kabhi apna jal—about how He makes rivers He never drinks from and trees from which the fruit He never eats Himself. He doesn’t eat His own fruit, He gives to others. Everything He does is for others, just like how nature gives to others. Anything whether it is water, tree, flower, a petal, in everything there is a form of God.

The movie in general was just about the teaching of God. There was no real plot line. With the music, they were giving the message. I cannot remember a lot.

What were the songs in the movie like?

At that time in general, there were a lot of songs in [Bollywood] movies. It has decreased now in Bollywood.

How did you get to the movie?

I went with my parents. To get there, in India we have public transport like an auto rickshaw. I went there on that.

Do you remember what the theater looked like?

At first in the old theaters, there would be one room with a reel, the reflection would come off of it to project the movie, not like the cable net now. Now we have multiplexes, with different rooms within a huge area. But at that time the theater only had one screening room and outside of that, there were usually stalls for food, but there was not as much variety. There was chai and a few snacks. Not popcorn. Sometimes they would have samosas.

Do you remember the people who worked at the cinema?

There used to be a guard. There were a few people who used to take a torch and help you around the theater. Then you had managers, who would come in if there was a problem.

Did you go to see movies often?

I didn’t go often in my childhood, only if my parents were going and they would take me. Later when I was studying in school, I remember for example I went to my uncle or my older brother’s wedding, and I went with my cousins to the movies. I remember going to the movies a lot more during that time. After my sister-in-law came into the family, I went to the movies a lot more.

What kinds of movies did you like to watch?

I watched so many movies—social commentaries, religious movies, etc.—after my sister-in-law came into the family. One movie we watched which was famous at that time was Mughal e Azam. Parvarish was another famous one.

Do you remember how the movie theater changed throughout your life?

With new technology, screening has changed. I can recall at that time when they projected the movie there was an effect at the start that looked like a curtain going up. They had balconies with two different sets. Now we might have a ladder in the middle so that you can get on either side, but there were two different ones with two entrances. The prices differed at each location. The front seats were cheaper because it was harder to look up and see the movie, and as it moved back, it got more expensive.

Did you only see Indian films, or did they show foreign films when you were growing up?

It was usually movies made in India. I didn’t watch any movies produced outside India. I haven’t watched any English movies, as I am not fond of them.

What types of movies do you like?

I like family dramas with values. I am not a huge fan of action films.

Note from interviewer: Aruna Singhal is the grandmother of my suitemate.