An engineer demonstrates the new digital equipment at Regent cinema in Patna on Thursday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Regent, the oldest cinema in Patna, has turned over a new leaf to keep pace with the changing times and installed digital apparatus to provide a hi-tech experience to movie lovers.

Patrons who turn up to catch The Amazing Spiderman on Friday will view the magic of the machine, imported from Belgium, said the owner of Regent, Suman Kumar Sinha.

He added: “It took three months to get the clearance from the customs office. Engineers also took two days to set it up. But now, it is finally functional. People who come to Regent from tomorrow (Friday) would get the digital feel.”

Regent is the second cinema in Patna after multiplex Cinepolis to go digital.

“Cinepolis has a digital facility but we have managed to get the latest model. The multiplex has a double lens digital machine. We have a single lens one, which is more hi-tech,” said the owner of the cinema, where classics like Sholay, Mughal-e-Azam, Shaan, Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai and many other blockbusters have been screened over the years.

The first Indian talkie, Alam Ara (1931), was also screened here.

The present management, however, is unwilling to rest on past laurels alone. Asked what features the state-of-the-art machine has, Sinha said: “Analog film is screened by passing it through a projector. But a digital movie is stored in the machine as computer data. Our machine has a single lens three-dimensional projector. It will convert the data into sound and light. No film is involved.”

He added that it would provide the best high definition pictures in a 3D film like The Amazing Spiderman.

“The picture quality of the new machine would be much better than what we are using at present. It can also operate in various formats,” Sinha said.

Movie lovers of the city are excited over the new development at Regent.

“It is wonderful that our city now has two digital cinemas. I used to often go with my family to Cinepolis for the hi-tech experience. But the multiplex is quite far from my house. Now, I would just need to walk five minutes to get the same experience at Regent,” said Atul Kumar, a resident of Bakarganj.

What’s more, patrons would also not have to pay anything extra for the new feel.

“We shall not increase the price of the tickets because this is the only cinema in the state which has maintained certain norms. I want the people to get a new feeling and the best entertainment at the lowest price,” said Sinha.

Reminiscing about the glorious past of the cinema, Sinha said: “In 1949, its name was changed to Regent and the sound system was revamped by my father Sushil Kumar Sinha. Then, the seating capacity was more than 750. Now, it has been reduced to 697.”