Interlude

A city whose multiplexes pull down their shutters and theatres put to halt their projectors finds refuge in libraries,CD shops and roadside bookstalls. And these are the places that after the threat of swine flu became the happening hangouts. After the multiplexes and also the single screen theatres locked their gates the exodus turned towards these secondary public hangouts that remained ignored for quite some time. The roadside bookstalls at Camp saw an extra string of footfalls on Day one of the closure. And what followed were another couples of extra strings of customers on Day two and three. The trend it seems is here to stay as people devise new ways for recreation. But all this and more is an unexpected windfall for various CD/DVD shops and roadside bookstalls. Also another sector that gets drenched in the splashes of this windfall are the libraries that are experiencing the gala time of the year.

Ameya library did not expect it would run short of the copies of Three Mistakes by Chetan Bhagat. “Youngsters who flocked in from all parts of the city wanted to issue that book. It was never before we ran short of its copies that we have. It was issued and re – issued,” says Pradeep Wagh,librarian,Ameya library. While Ameya at Dhole Patil Road experienced such a breakthrough Magna book Gallery at Sassoon Road too has the footfalls increasing. “There are new members added to the list. May be it is just in a spur of moment they decided to take membership. I think if the malls and multiplexes are closed down for quite some time we will see further increment,” says Gajendra Nadekar,librarian

CD Tron the small CD shop at Model colony added to its clientele 70 more people on Day 2 of the malls and multiplex close down. “Day one there were approximately 15 more people who came to the shop to rent CDs and DVDs but Day two when they were convinced of the fact that the multiplexes will remain closed in the days to come the number increased,” says Ali Asgar,owner CD Tron.

But the ones benefited the most with the swine flu fear are the roadside bookstalls that have customers flocking by every now and then. “ Weekends are days when people crave to go out watch a film but since they could not do that anymore what troubles them is boredom,” says Prashant Nadekar who along with other roadside booksellers has a stall near coffee house MG Road. A host of roadside bookstall owners at MG Road have also seen a tremendous increase in the week-long break.