Aditya Prakash, Edmund Sumner · Neelam Theatre

Edmund Sumner

I had been working in India two to three times a year since the mid-2000s and had long-heard stories of this cinema. There were few photographs of it, and many people weren’t sure if it was still open. I inquired and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was indeed operating. The manager was delighted to have me photograph the space, although I was only allowed to shoot in between screenings. Bollywood films are famous for their length and as the changeover between screenings was only 15 minutes, I spent most of my day there. This cinema reflects a time and a place, both past, present and future. Although the fate of the cinema remains uncertain, I was grateful to be able to freeze a moment in time.
Text by Edmund Sumner