Eros 2.0 from the New Lens!

It could have been nothing but poetic for Eros to come to place in Mumbai's Churchgate, a land which was reclaimed from the Arabian sea, and, with its reopening after a great hiatus, it continues to be one that combines the lyrical ode of the vintage charm with the modern aesthetics.

From a Mumbaikar's lens, it is way more than what it seems now - a great showroom for Swadesh, which is a luxury retail destination by the Ambanis, most likely to centre on a certain class of society at Eros. And, our recent visit felt the same, with customers browsing through the extensive couture of the showroom.

A Colaba resident, Sabrina Advani, shares: "The screenings have been memorable. It looks like a retail outlet now and has an elite ambience; but it is also marvellous," she says.

The nostalgia recounted in tranquillity

However, what makes Eros, a place for all, is its location - proximity to the Churchgate station and the makeover of the cinema that shall remain an attractive point for people belonging to all walks of life. An iconic Art Deco structure, Eros cinema came into existence in February 1938 as a Cambata Building feature. It was designed by Shorabji Bhedwar and was envisioned by Shiavax Cambata to be the "pride of the East".

Talking about its striking features was a stepped wedge-shaped exterior, ziggurat roofline, and a lavish foyer decorated with classical and Indian friezes. Reportedly, it was partially constructed using red Agra sandstone while the building was adorned in a cream colour. The central block converged the two sections of its structures, and the entrance hall featured a combination of white and black marble accentuated with gold.  

There were the marble staircases that took one to the upper level with chromium handrails, all while the murals depicted the Indian architecture that were painted in subtle hues.

Apart from the architecture, however, the prominence of Eros grew as a single-screen theatre, like other such theatres, where it became the hotspot for Hindi classics like Mughal e Azam, Sangam, Pakeezah, Sholay and more. Reportedly, Warner Bros films were specially screened at the Eros Theatre, out of all south-Bombay theatres. 

What changed was the culture with the rise of the multiplexes from the early 2000s onwards, which signalled a shift in the industry. Eros was closed in  2017 and was under construction for a very long time. As it reopened last year, it became a multi-use property featuring a 300-seat IMAX cinema, retail, and the Cambatta Family had sold off the property to Atul Gupta, managing partner of Metro Realty, which then took up the remodelling work. 

A ride for the passersby 

What had come to a halt has restarted - an emotion that this spot evokes with its mere presence. Another Colaba resident, who also runs an NGO around, recounts how she was taken to the Eros for the Disney shows by her mother when she was a kid, and such is the emotion that runs through the residents who have seen the time fly by. "It used to be a treat back in time, a good family-bonding time. Probably, I won't be able to relate to the past, I feel," Daina Bacha says. 

With its reopening, each floor has, thankfully, restored all historical features. Instead of one large 1,300-seater theatre, the restored space now houses shops and eateries in the lobby and the first floor, and a 300-seater IMAX cinema above. 

As we walked past the Eros, what is most evident is the newly-opened Swadesh on the ground as well as on the first floor, which also houses restaurants. The entry remains in its original character with its black and white marble floor,  the bas relief circular columns, and the striking sunroof. Zakira Patel is the mind behind the lobby’s interiors.

The octagonal elevators are, though, upgraded with automatic collapsible shutters, but if you have been before, it is enough to remind you of the old times. The grand staircase has been done with the marble work and circular wooden handrails. What turns out to be the highlight is also the hampagne leafing on the internal rings of the upper floor parapet and the atrium ceiling.

To maintain the original character of the Red Agra Sandstone, it has been repaired with plasterwork before being repainted in the original colour scheme. The old dilapidated buildings have evidently been replaced with new frames that are almost identical to the original ones. New lights have also adorned the place that speak volumes of its revamping.  

What Art Deco structures like Eros remind us of is the fact that it came as a cultural uprising as well, alongside the freedom movement. Marking a shift from the Indo-Saracenic architecture that was majorly visible before this, Eros, thus, stood as the cultural change among the other Art Decos.

Even currently, it is nothing but the reminiscence of another cultural change, and, amidst the luxury showroom located or surrounded by the people from all walks of society passing from this spot, it will be interesting to see how the new Eros balances this sharp contrast. 

A few Colaba residents we spoke to mentioned the "class" which has now been attached to the place."It feels elite now, surrounded by commerners," a 56-year-old resident says, keeping himself anonymous. However, he also states that the culture that was once built with commerners would not go. "The current infrastructure outside the Eros can never be meant for the elites in the absence of facilities like parking," he says, also citing an example of how the Zara shop closed down recently. 

Talking to Local Samosa, the quinquagenarian, recounts an incident of buying a folder from the Swadeshi shop at the CSMT station and says, "That is the 'swadeshi' culture - which can be affordable for people, unlike the recently-opened store at Eros."

"Culture has been the reason for India's survival, and cultures are created and thrive by the commoners," the resident, who also runs a shop beside the Regal cinema - another art deco building in South Mumbai - shares, a grin on his face.