For Ashok Ghosh, the news of Elphinstone cinema reopening has opened the floodgates to good memories of cult Hindi films.

The AN College professor had watched Dilip Kumar’s Mughal-E-Azam with his friends, giving school a miss in 1960. He is elated that the state’s oldest cinema hall would be reopening on May 17, along with its conjoined twin — Mona cinema — which, too, has been closed for a month for renovation work.

“Unbelievable! I cannot explain what memories I have of Elphinstone. My friends and I never missed a film at the cinema. It used to screen most of the films that released during its period. I watched Mughal-E-Azam at least thrice in the August of 1960,” said Ghosh, adding that he would surely like to watch movies at the cinema once again.

To ensure a modern cinema experience, the Elphinstone cinema — established in 1919 — was closed for an overhaul in December 2010.

“A four-storeyed building has been developed at the site of the old cinema. The first and second floors would have food courts with a seating capacity of 200 people. The single screen would occupy the third and fourth floors. The cinema would have 220 seats. Though it is a 2D screen, latest technologies have been used to ensure best movie watching experience to viewers,” said Sharad Kumar, the manager (accounts) of Elphinstone Picture Palace, which owns both the cinemas.

Though Sharad did not confirm the ticket rates at the new Elphinstone cinema, he claimed it would be in the range of that charged by existing modern cinema halls and multiplexes in the city. They charge between Rs 150 and Rs 180.

The closure of Mona, too, had made things a bit difficult for avid movie watchers.

“Mona was a good option for those staying in the Patna east. Now, if a particular movie is not being screened in the neighbouring Regent, we have to travel all the way to Cinepolis (around 8km). This is costlier in terms of higher travel expenses and ticket prices,” said Prashant Kumar, a resident of Kankerbagh.

The ticket price at Cinepolis is Rs 220, whereas it is Rs 160 at Mona.