Historic single-screen cinemas in India are undergoing a profound identity and economic crisis, leading to their rapid disappearance. Meanwhile, modern multiplexes are expanding, reflecting the overall growth of the Indian film industry.
In provincial areas, where traditional cinemas have closed down, video parlors have emerged as a low-cost alternative. These large, sparsely furnished rooms, equipped only with a projector, aim to keep the movie theater experience alive in a more affordable way. However, they too are now facing a major crisis due to rampant piracy, the rise of new technologies like smartphones and laptops, and their often unregulated status, as very few operate legally.

As a result, India's cinema landscape could soon undergo a dramatic transformation. In both rural areas and major cities, small theaters are steadily being replaced by video centers. Today, three types of theaters—video parlors, single-screen halls, and modern multiplexes—continue to attract distinct audiences, each defined by specific social and economic backgrounds. Together, they offer a striking reflection of India's complex social fabric, framed against the shimmering twilight of Bollywood. This project was carried out between 2011 and 2017 and served as a metaphor to illustrate how deeply divided the social system remains. The Covid experience has only intensified these dynamics.