"Last Screening"
Genre: Nostalgia / Drama Plot: Ek chhota gaon ka single-screen theatre, jo digital age mein band ho raha hai. Uski last film chal rahi hai — aur ek 70 saal ka projectionist apni purani yaadon aur filmon ke liye final goodbye bol raha hai. Festival Hook: Cinema about cinema, rural India, silent grief.
🎬 Last Screening
Language: Hindi (Roman)
Genre: Drama / Nostalgia
Duration: Approx. 2 hours
Setting: Ek chhota gaon, ek purana single-screen theatre, India
SCENE 1 – EXTERIOR – GAON KA THEATRE –
EARLY EVENING
(Long
wide shot of an old, fading cinema building – “Raja Talkies.” Garm hawa se
hilte posterein, faded paint, khali road.)
VO
(NARRATOR / PROJECTIONIST - OLD MALE VOICE)
“Filmon ka sheher tha yeh bhi... jab din bhar kheto mein kaam karne ke baad,
log shaam ko yahan sapne dekhne aate the…”
(Slow
dolly-in shot toward the entrance, where a chhota bacha ticket counter ki grill
se jhaank raha hai.)
SCENE 2 – INTERIOR – PROJECTION ROOM –
EVENING
(Camera
enters the projection room, full of dust, film reels, old photos. Hamein dikhta
hai – GIRI BABU, 70 saal ke, lambe safed baal, aankhon mein ek alag hi chamak.)
GIRI
BABU (mutters while cleaning lens)
“Chhoti si duniya hai yeh box… aur kitne chehre isne dikhaye…”
(He
opens a drawer, pulls out an old black-and-white photo of a young woman.)
GIRI
BABU (smiles softly)
“Leela…”
(Silent
beat. Ek purana film reel chalu karte hain, projector ka humming sound. Screen
par purani Dev Anand ki film ka ek shot.)
SCENE 3 – LOBBY – NIGHT
(Audience
aa rahi hai. Theatre ke andar purane wooden benches hain. Posters: “Sholay,”
“Guide,” “Mughal-e-Azam.” Local chaiwala bachche ko kehta hai: “Aakhri show
hai, yaadgar bana.”)
CHAIWALA
“Yeh theatre band ho raha hai… aur hum sab apni pehli date yahin laaye the.”
(Audience
mixed: elderly, young couples, ek dulhan-jaisa dress pehni ladki. Theatre
manager, RAMU, notices the crowd.)
RAMU
“Giri Babu ne aaj koi naya jaadu chalaya hai…”
SCENE 4 – PROJECTION ROOM – NIGHT
(Giri
Babu reel badal rahe hain. Peeche se theatre ki awaaz aa rahi hai. Film ke
dialogues ke upar se unki apni duniya chalti hai.)
GIRI
BABU (VO)
“Main har kahaani mein ek hissa tha… parda ke peeche se hi sahi…”
(Cut
to old montage: different reels running, audience cheering, kids laughing, 80s
ke gaane. Har reel ke saath ek yaad.)
SCENE 5 – INTERIOR – AUDITORIUM – MID
SHOW
(Film
chal rahi hai. Log hans rahe hain, kuch ro rahe hain. Ek couple silently haath
pakadta hai.)
(Giri
Babu quietly walks in from the side, dekhta hai sab ko – aur ek seat pe baith
jaata hai. Parda ke upar roshni, uski aankhon mein reflection.)
GIRI
BABU (softly to himself)
“Yeh aakhri baar hai... jab parda jhoom raha hai, aur dil bol raha hai…”
(Screen
par slow dissolve – Dev Anand ki line: “Jeevan ke safar mein raahi…” plays in
background.)
Ab le chalo “Last Screening” ke agle 5 scenes
mein — emotional layering deepen hoti hai, character ka past dikhta hai, aur
theatre ke band hone ka reason surface pe aata hai. Format wahi rakha gaya hai:
dialogue + action + Roman Hindi Script.
🎬 SCENE 6 – FLASHBACK
– PROJECTION ROOM – 1970s – DAY
(Young
GIRI, 25, apne ustad ke saath pehli baar reel chalana seekh raha hai. Theatre
mein “Aradhana” chal rahi hai.)
USTAD
(old projectionist)
“Machine se sirf roshni chalu hoti hai... magar kahani, dil se chalti hai,
Giri.”
YOUNG
GIRI
“Lekin kahani khatam hone ke baad kya bacha rehta hai?”
USTAD (smiles)
“Ek yaad. Jo zindagi bhar chalti hai.”
(Montage
of old film reels, Giri splicing film, drawing a moustache on Rajesh Khanna's
poster. End flashback with reel burning slightly.)
SCENE 7 – PRESENT – EXTERIOR – THEATRE
WALL – NIGHT
(Outside
theatre, ek young journalist – NAINA – local blog ke liye cover kar rahi hai.
She’s taking photos.)
NAINA
(to camera)
“Gaon ka yeh theatre aaj bandh ho raha hai. Lekin iske projectionist Giri Babu
ne kaha… ‘parda gira toh kya hua, kahaniyaan toh reh jaayengi.’”
(She
looks at the fading poster of “Do Bigha Zamin.” Soft wind. She pauses.)
NAINA
“Shaayad yeh cinema sirf film nahi… ek mehsoos thi.”
SCENE 8 – INTERIOR – PROJECTION ROOM –
LATER NIGHT
(Giri
Babu is alone. Theatre ka background sound sunayi deta hai – climax scene chal
raha hai.)
(Giri
opens a box – usme old love letters, film tickets, ek cassette – labeled:
“Leela – Rafi night.”)
(Plays it on old tape recorder – Rafi’s voice: “Chaudhvin ka chand ho…”)
GIRI
BABU (eyes moist)
“Tu toh keh ke gayi thi… picture kabhi khatam nahi hoti…”
(He
rewinds the tape and closes the box gently.)
SCENE 9 – INTERIOR – MANAGER'S OFFICE –
SAME NIGHT
(Manager
RAMU aur theatre ke malik ka beta discuss kar rahe hain.)
OWNER’S
SON
“Is jagah ki jagah ek mobile tower lagayenge. 4G ka zamana hai. Ye sab ab
museum ki cheezein hai.”
RAMU
(sarcastic)
“Aur sapne? Unka kya? Netflix pe download kar loge?”
(Owner's
son smirks, lights a cigarette. Ramu looks out the window at the glowing screen
inside.)
SCENE 10 – EXTERIOR – THEATRE ENTRANCE
– MIDNIGHT
(Show
khatam ho chuki hai. Crowd bahar aa rahi hai. Sab ek pal ke liye ruk kar theatre
ki taraf dekhte hain – as if saying goodbye.)
(Ek
bacha apne pita se poochta hai...)
CHHOTU
“Papa, ab hum film kahaan dekhenge?”
PITA
(shrugs softly)
“Phone pe…”
(Crowd
disperses. Giri Babu quietly locks the door from inside. Slow fade to black.)
Bahut
badhiya! Ab shuru karte hain Scene 11–15 — yeh section aur emotional ho
jaata hai. Theatre band ho chuka hai, lekin Giri Babu us raat ko yaadon ke
saath jeeta hai. Ek nayi aankhon se purani duniya dekhi ja rahi hai.
🎬 SCENE 11 – INTERIOR
– THEATRE HALL – LATE NIGHT
(Lights
off. Sirf projector ka moonlight sa reflection. Giri Babu quietly walks down
the empty aisles. Har bench par ruk kar thoda-thoda sochta hai.)
(Uske
haath mein ek purani torch hai, jiska glass scratch hua hai. Har jagah memories
ki parchhayi.)
GIRI
BABU (softly)
“Yeh seat... jahan Mohan ne Pushpa ka haath pehli baar pakda tha…”
(Suddenly
ek awaaz...)
GIRL’S
VOICE (O.S.)
“Chacha... mummy ko dhoondhne aayi thi... aap yahan?”
(Giri
turns. It’s RADHIKA, 9-year-old, theatre ki safai karne wali woman ki beti.)
SCENE 12 – INTERIOR – LOBBY – NIGHT
(Giri
Babu Radhika ko ek bench par bithata hai. Uske haath mein biscuit ka packet
deta hai.)
GIRI
BABU
“Tumhari mummy toh gayi ghar… par tum yeh last show chhod ke kaise gayi?”
RADHIKA
(mouthful)
“Main chupke piche wali seat pe thi… aakhri film dekhni thi. Mummy bolti thi
aapne mujhe kabhi parde pe Rani Mukherjee dikhayi thi jab main baby thi.”
(Giri
smiles. Silence. Then speaks...)
GIRI
BABU
“Toh ek aur show ho jaaye?”
(He
gestures to projection room. Radhika’s eyes light up.)
SCENE 13 – PROJECTION ROOM – NIGHT
(Giri
opens up one last reel – “Chhoti Si Baat” – old romantic film. He loads the
reel while Radhika watches, fascinated.)
RADHIKA
“Ye sab itna alag hai phone se... jaise kuch zinda ho yahaan.”
GIRI
BABU (smiles gently)
“Phone sapna dikhata hai… lekin yeh… sapna jeeta hai.”
(Projector
starts. Hum sound sunte hain — whirring, clicking, then film begins on screen.)
SCENE 14 – AUDITORIUM – LATE NIGHT /
EARLY MORNING
(Bas
do log baaki: Giri aur Radhika. Film chal rahi hai. Radhika seedha screen ko
dekh rahi hai. Giri usse dekhta hai – jaise waqt thoda sa ruk gaya ho.)
(Film
ke beech – ek short power cut. Screen black ho jaati hai.)
RADHIKA
“Parde pe kuch nahi hai…”
(Giri
torch jalaata hai. Us roshni mein screen pe khud dono ka silhouette dikhai deta
hai.)
GIRI
BABU
“Par dekh... ab hum hi film mein hain.”
(Radhika
smiles. Moments like magic.)
SCENE 15 – PROJECTION ROOM – SUNRISE
(Giri
Babu reel hata raha hai. Bahar se halke suraj ki roshni aane lagi hai. Radhika
so chuki hai ek kursi par.)
(Giri
uske paas quietly ek shawl daal deta hai. Phir window se bahar dekhta hai –
theatre ke upar ek kabootar udta hua ja raha hai.)
GIRI
BABU (VO)
“Jab theatre band hota hai… toh sirf darwaze nahi band hote… ek zamana chala
jaata hai.”
(Slow
fade out. Soft ambient music. Morning begins.)
Next
scenes (Scene 16–20):
- Radhika ke
through Giri Babu ek nayi hope dekhta hai
- Gaon ke kuch log
ek tribute plan karte hain
- Giri ka ek
letter milta hai Leela ka – jo kahani ka twist laata hai
Ab
le chalte hain kahaani ke Scene 16–20 tak — yahaan se Giri Babu ki zindagi
ek emotional turn leti hai. Radhika uske liye ek nayi generation ka connection
ban jaati hai, aur ek purani yaad (Leela ka letter) ek final closure laata hai.
Yeh scenes nostalgia ke saath ek chhoti si umeed bhi le aate hain.
🎬 SCENE 16 – INTERIOR
– THEATRE – EARLY MORNING
(Radhika
abhi bhi so rahi hai. Giri Babu quietly auditorium mein jata hai. Har bench pe
haath pherta hai jaise last time bidai de raha ho.)
(Wall
se ek purani photo girti hai. Giri uthata hai — photo: Leela in saree, theatre
ke saamne muskura rahi hai.)
(Us
photo ke piche likha hai: “Jab kahaani rukti hai… wahi se nayi shuru hoti hai –
L”)
(Giri
ke haath kaanpte hain. Uski aankhon mein shock + khushi ka blend.)
SCENE 17 – EXTERIOR – GAON CHOWK – DAY
(Naina
journalist chhote-chhote interviews le rahi hai – log theatre ke baare mein
yaadein share kar rahe hain.)
ELDERLY
MAN
“Main yahin pe apni pehli film dekhi thi… aur yahin meri shaadi ka pehla date
hua tha.”
YOUNG
BOY
“Papa kehte hain jab woh school bunk karte the toh idhar aate the.”
(Naina
idea leti hai – theatre band hone se pehle ek tribute screening plan karne ka.
She calls Ramu manager.)
NAINA
“Ek last open-air show. Sab logon ke liye. Giri Babu ke liye.”
SCENE 18 – INTERIOR – GIRI BABU’S
QUARTERS – EVENING
(Giri
Babu table pe photo ke saath baitha hai. Uske haath mein ek purani diary hai.
Usmein kuch letter ke tukde chipke hain.)
(He
opens one — envelope with Leela’s handwriting. Usne kabhi open nahi kiya tha.)
LEELA’S
LETTER (VO, soft female voice)
“Giri, maine tumse sirf ek cheez chhupayi thi — main film ki heroine banne
nahi, kisi ki kahaani banne aayi thi. Tumhari.”
(Cut
to flashbacks: Leela helping in ticket counter, smiling at Giri from audience,
unspoken love.)
LEELA
(VO continues)
“Agar kabhi tumhe yeh mile… toh samajhna, main parde se bahar bhi tumhaare
saath thi.”
(Giri
ke aankhon mein aansu. Wo letter ko kiss karta hai softly.)
SCENE 19 – EXTERIOR – VILLAGE GROUND –
NIGHT
(Sab
log ikatthe hue hain — ek white bedsheet jaisi screen lagi hai, purana
projector lagaya gaya hai.)
(Radhika
front row mein baithi hai, Naina mic pakde huye announce karti hai...)
NAINA
“Yeh show kisi hero ke liye nahi, kisi superstar ke liye nahi — yeh show hai ek
aadmi ke liye jinhone humein sapne dekhna sikhaya.”
(Giri
Babu ko stage pe bulaya jata hai. Sab taali bajate hain. Giri aankhon mein
aansuon ke saath stage pe aata hai.)
SCENE 20 – EXTERIOR – OPEN AIR
SCREENING – NIGHT
(Film
chalu hoti hai — “Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi.” Crowd cheer karta hai. Radhika popcorn
khate-khate Giri ki taraf dekhti hai.)
RADHIKA
(whispers)
“Aapne toh sach mein film chalu kar di, chacha…”
(Giri
Babu usse dekhta hai, lekin kuch nahi kehta. Sirf muskurata hai. Screen par
Kishore Kumar ki masti, aur background mein light instrumental score.)
(Wide
shot: theatre band hua, par kahaani abhi chal rahi hai. Fade out.)
Next
scenes (Scene 21–25):
- Giri Babu ko ek
government letter milta hai — theatre ko heritage site declare karne ki
notice
- Radhika ko short
film banane ka idea aata hai
- Final emotional
goodbye / legacy pass hone ka scene
Ab
aa rahe hain Scene 21–25 — yahaan kahaani apne final arc mein enter
karti hai. Emotions deepen, ek cultural tribute reality ban jaata hai, aur Giri
Babu ka safar ek legacy mein badal jaata hai. Har scene carefully likha gaya
hai to bring closure with hope.
🎬 SCENE 21 – INTERIOR
– POST OFFICE – NEXT MORNING
(Giri
Babu post office mein ek khat lene gaya hai. Postmaster usse ek “Registered
Government Notice” deta hai.)
POSTMASTER
“Giri bhai... ye aapke naam hai. Lagta hai Dilli se aaya hai.”
(Giri
slowly opens it. Reads silently. Shocked, then quietly sits down on bench.)
VOICEOVER
(Letter Reading – GOVT)
“Raja Talkies is proposed to be declared a cultural heritage site under the
Rural Preservation Act, 1961…”
(Giri
ke haath thoda kaanp rahe hain. Letter pe last line likhi hoti hai:)
“...for
its contribution in rural cinema preservation, and projectionist Shri Girish
Sharma’s lifetime dedication.”
(Aankhon
mein aansu. Maan jaata hai, kahaani rukti nahi.)
SCENE 22 – INTERIOR – SCHOOL CLASSROOM
– DAY
(Radhika
school ke blackboard pe drawing bana rahi hai — ek chhota theatre aur uske upar
likha: “Mera sapna: cinema banungi.”)
TEACHER
(amused)
“Yeh kya banaya beta?”
RADHIKA
(smiling)
“Giri chacha ke jaise filmon wali banungi... par sabke liye.”
(Sab
bache haaste hain. Radhika proud lagti hai.)
SCENE 23 – INTERIOR – GIRI BABU’S ROOM
– NIGHT
(Radhika,
Naina aur Ramu baith kar Giri Babu se baatein kar rahe hain. Giri ek purani
notebook nikaalta hai.)
GIRI
BABU
“Mere paas 40 saalon ka record hai — kaun si film kab lagi, kis din, kitne log
aaye...”
(Naina
usse dekh ke kehti hai:)
NAINA
“Ye toh documentary ban sakti hai! Aapki kahaani, aapki awaaz mein.”
(Radhika
excited hoti hai.)
RADHIKA
“Hum shoot karenge! Phone se. Main aapko camera ke saamne le jaungi!”
(Sab
hans padte hain. Giri Babu silently smiles, tears welled up.)
SCENE 24 – EXTERIOR – RENOVATED THEATRE
FRONT – WEEKS LATER
(Gaon
ke log theatre ke bahar ek nayi nameplate laga rahe hain: “Raja Talkies –
Heritage Site”. Cleaned walls, fresh posters, ek chhoti photo exhibition inside
of Giri Babu’s projector and Leela’s photo.)
(Sab
log selfie le rahe hain, bachche drawing kar rahe hain.)
NAINA
(to camera)
“Aaj yeh jagah sirf ek theatre nahi… ek memory museum hai. Aur iska
projectionist, ek kahaani ban gaya hai.”
SCENE 25 – INTERIOR – THEATRE STAGE –
DAY
(Final
event. Radhika stage pe aayi hai, mic pe hai.)
RADHIKA
“Giri chacha bolte the... film kabhi khatam nahi hoti, sirf parda band hota
hai.”
(Audience
taali bajata hai. Spotlight shifts — Giri Babu seat pe baitha hai, dheere se
aankhen band karta hai, jaise peace mein ho.)
(Background
mein Rafi’s voice fades in: “Waqt ki har shaakh se yaad chhoot jaati hai…”)
(Screen pe dissolve hota hai: Giri Babu smiling inside the projection room
one last time.)
FADE
TO BLACK.
TEXT
ON SCREEN
"For every man who kept the reels spinning while the world
changed."
"Last Screening"
THE END
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