Cinema came to Bihar in the early years of 20th century.'The Elphinstone Bioscope Co'. Patna had its own Elphinstone Theatre which became the Elphinstone cinema,

Cinema, the world's most powerful audio-visual medium, has always impacted young people. Andrei Tarkovsky, the greatest Russian movie maker after Eisenstein, had said, "Unlike all the other art forms, film is able to seize and render the passage of time, to stop it, almost to possess it in infinity. I'd say that film is the sculpting of time."

The movies came to Bihar in the early years of 20th century. J F Madan had acquired the 'Elphinstone Theatre Co.' of Bombay in 1902 and converted it into 'The Elphinstone Bioscope Co'. Patna had its own Elphinstone Theatre which became the Elphinstone cinema, and started showing short silent films. After the advent of Talkies, it started showing films with sound. Its ownership changed after the collapse of the Madan empire in 1930s. Cine Society president Rajendra N Dash writes of another silent cinema theatre built in China Kothi, Patna, which withered away after the advent of Talkies in 1931. 

The first 'Talkie Theatre' of Patna was built at Babu Bazar, south-west Patna, debuting with the talkie, 'Veer Abhimanyu', in 1933 or 1934. Not long after, a huge fire destroyed the theatre, caused by the highly volatile nitrate film reels. It was never rebuilt.

Today, Patna boasts of a multiplex and several cinema halls with 3D and 4D technologies. But a growing number of discerning young people say that these theatres fall short of their expectations when it comes to content.

"Honestly, Patna doesn't offer much to the discerning viewer. One or two English movies screened at the Cinepolis, are mainly action movies, fantasies, and animation films. The rest of the screens in Patna show Hollywood blockbusters dubbed in Hindi, which are poor substitutes," says 19-year-old Manoj Kumar, a second year student of Mass Media in Sikkim Manipal's distance education programme. "When I want to watch a Bergman or Fellini or a Tarantino for example, the place to go is a cine circle. It's great cinema and almost free!"

Film studies and cinema have become an important part of mass media courses, and it is imperative that students watch and analyze classic and contemporary cinema from all over the world.

Film appreciation clubs and societies are emerging in Patna. Here, in private showings to members and guests, enthusiastic youngsters and cinema aficionados can experience the film magic of masters old and new.For the past year, in a small upper room opposite the Sacred Heart Church in New Patliputra Colony, the faithful disciples of cinema gather for their weekend 'screen supper'. Almost every week, the Act Cine Circle screens a documentary or film of the 'independent' variety, sourced directly from the maker, distributor or a private collection. These are strictly non-commercial private screenings for viewing and discussion, insists the coordinator, Shanti Ghimire, a media student at the Malauna Mazrul Haque Arabic and Persian University. "We mention the film on our Facebook status pages, and create an event on our Facebook page. Interested people phone in and accordingly we make seating arrangements. Our capacity is about 24 chairs."

The Act Cine Circle is doing a 'human rights cycle' in September and October, where films such as 'Milk', 'The Mathew Sheppard Story' and 'Sixth Happiness' will be screened along with documentaries and short features from India and South Asia on gay, lesbian and transgender issues.

Another private venue, the residence of Dr Dilip Sen at Buddha Marg has seen the gathering of the film faithful for over a decade. Patna's most venerable film appreciation group, the Cine Society, Patna has been congregating there for at least three days a month to savour screenings from the works of master craftsmen from all over the world.

The Cine Society, Patna is the oldest registered film appreciation society, all of 29 years. It actually started in the early 1950's as the Patna Film Society and is among the oldest cinema societies in India. CSP, with the support of the Bihar Government, organizes regular film screenings at Chhavi Griha on Saturday afternoons, which are open to all. Documentaries, classic Indian and world cinema is on offer to students and enthusiasts.

"The current membership of CSP is about 150, and growing," says Raviraj Patel, an active member. "Under the able guidance of R N Dash and Gautam Dasgupta, the society has been able to embark on an ambitious education programme: the education of Patna's college students in the art and grammar of cinema."

Nitin Chandra, one of Bihar's better-known regional filmmakers and a CSP member says, "Our daily lives are influenced by cinema. When it comes to Bihar, which has a cinema hall density of one to 10 lakh people, it is a matter of great concern that cinema needs to be promoted for its value as art and its importance as livelihood. People need to be told the difference between the good, bad and ugly. CSP can play a big role in reviving a taste for good cinema."

For youngsters who want to watch compelling cinema and at almost no price, the best thing is to find out about a film appreciation club, cine circle or cine society near you. It's an educational experience both stimulating and satisfying.