Can Lion Cinema roar into its centennial?

In the early 20th century, Dhaka's elite resided in areas like Patuatuli, Islampur, Nawabpur, Tantibazar, Armanitola and Chawkbazar. Life in these bustling neighbourhoods revolved around commerce, culture and entertainment. 

Among the many landmarks, Lion Cinema in Islampur, formerly Diamond Jubilee Theatre, stood as a beacon of performing arts before transitioning into a full-fledged cinema hall.

This cultural gem has experienced its share of highs and lows. After closing its doors in 2005, it wasn't until 2022 that the Lion brand roared back to life in a new location.

But can this century-old institution survive to celebrate its 100th year in 2031?

Lion Cinema traces its origins back to a time when theatre was the pinnacle of entertainment. The grand establishment was originally built by zamindar Kishorilal in honour of Queen Victoria's 60th coronation anniversary and named Diamond Jubilee Theatre.

It was later acquired in the 1920s by Mirza Abdul Qader Sardar, who renamed it Lion Theatre.

"Perhaps my father was influenced by his surroundings, but one thing is certain - he had a deep passion for theatre and cultural pursuits," said Qader's son Mirza Abdul Khaleq.

Qader staged spectacular Hindi, Urdu and Bengali productions, going so far as to bring in Mustafa Hossain, a renowned set designer from Kolkata.

Then came cinema.

With the rise of silent films, theatre audiences began dwindling, and as talkies arrived in 1931, theatre was gradually edged out. Lion Theatre adapted, screening the subcontinent's first talkie, Alam Ara, marking its full transition into a cinema hall.

What was once a grand stage adorned with lavish set pieces gave way to a simple white screen, onto which films from Bombay (now Mumbai) and Kolkata were projected.

Cinema for all classes

Unlike other elite cinemas such as Mukul (later Azad) and Picture Palace (later Shabistan), Lion was known for its affordability. Tickets were as low as Tk0.2 for third-class seating.

Lion's seating was a class hierarchy in itself - third-class had wooden benches, second-class had tin chairs, while first-class boasted cushioned seats and private boxes that could accommodate entire families.

Yet the thrill of cinema united them all.

The screening of Hunterwali, starring the fearless stunt queen Nadia, drew massive crowds. Some spectators, overcome by emotion, would hurl their lit bidi cigarettes at the screen in anger at on-screen villains. 

Man behind the empire

Mirza Abdul Qader Sardar wasn't just a businessman. He was a visionary and a patron of culture. Apart from expanding the Lion brand to cities like Rangpur, Jashore and Chattogram, he was deeply involved in politics and activism.

A close ally of Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq, he played a crucial role in garnering support for the Bengali language movement among the old Dhaka elites after the partition. 

His influence was such that when language activists faced hostility while marching through certain neighbourhoods in Old Dhaka, a single directive from him ensured safe passage.

"Start marching from tomorrow, no one will dare oppose you," he reportedly told student leaders.

Struggle in modern era

After Qader Sardar's passing in 1963, his son, Mirza Abdul Khaleq, inherited the responsibility of running Lion. He modernised the hall in 1983, keeping up with the changing times.

But the golden age of Bangladeshi cinema started fading in the late 1990s, giving way to a wave of obscenity that repelled family audiences. 

Khaleq's mother, after spotting an offensive movie poster outside the hall, confronted him: "Can't you stop screening such films?"

It was a breaking point. Unable to reconcile the hall's legacy with the new wave of cinema, Lion was shut down in 2005.

However, he informed his mother that he had purchased land on the other side of the Bugiganga River, where he planned to build another Lion Hall.

The final roar?

Today, Lion Cinema Hall no longer exists, replaced by the Lion Tower, an 11-storey commercial complex. Meanwhile, a new venue, Lion Cinemas, opened in Keraniganj in 2022.

However, even this new venture struggles to draw in crowds. On Valentine's Day 2024, only 24 tickets were sold.

Khaleq considers 2031 as Lion's centenary, but with only six years left, he is concerned about whether he can continue to subsidise operations in that time.

"I'm deeply conflicted," he admitted. "We have several long-serving employees, and if we close down the hall, they'll be left without work. I simply can't bring myself to shut it down - it's not a decision I can easily make. But the situation is becoming increasingly dire, and I don't see a way forward."

He continued, "Cinema should be an entertainment medium, but today it feels more like a platform for awards. While we're happy when films win accolades, entertainment must come first."