Lion Cinema’s Century
- A look at the past, present, and future of a Dhaka cinema institution.
- In the early 20th century, Dhaka's elite resided in areas like patuatuli, Islampur, Nawabpur, Tantibazar, Armanitola and Chawkbazar.
- Among the many landmarks, Lion Cinema in Islampur, formerly diamond Jubilee Theatre, stood as a beacon of performing arts before transitioning into a full-fledged cinema hall.
Lion Cinema: A Century of Dhaka’s Entertainment History
Table of Contents
- Lion Cinema: A Century of Dhaka’s Entertainment History
- From Theatre to Cinema: The Early Years
- Cinema for All Classes
- Mirza Abdul Qader Sardar: A Visionary Leader
- Struggles in the Modern Era
- The Future of Lion Cinema
- Lion cinema: A Century of Dhaka’s Entertainment History - Q&A
- What was Lion Cinema in Dhaka originally known as?
- Where was Lion Cinema originally located, adn what areas were considered elite in Dhaka at the time?
- When did Diamond Jubilee Theatre transition into Lion Cinema?
- When did Lion Cinema close its doors, and when did a new “Lion” venue open?
- Why did Lion Theatre transition from theatre to cinema?
- Key Figures in Lion cinema’s History
- What were the ticket prices like at Lion Cinema, and how did the seating arrangements reflect social class?
- what meaningful role did Mirza Abdul Qader Sardar play in politics and activism, notably regarding the Bengali language movement?
- What factors led to the closure of Lion Cinema in 2005?
- what is the current status of Lion Cinema, and what are the challenges it faces?
- What are the key concerns about the future of Lion Cinema?
- where is the New Lion Cinema Located?
A look at the past, present, and future of a Dhaka cinema institution.
In the early 20th century, Dhaka’s elite resided in areas like patuatuli, Islampur, Nawabpur, Tantibazar, Armanitola and Chawkbazar. Life in these bustling neighbourhoods revolved around commerce, culture and entertainment.
Among the many landmarks, Lion Cinema in Islampur, formerly diamond Jubilee Theatre, stood as a beacon of performing arts before transitioning into a full-fledged cinema hall. This cultural gem has experienced its share of highs and lows.
After closing its doors in 2005,it wasn’t until 2022 that the Lion brand roared back to life in a new location.
But can this century-old institution survive to celebrate its 100th year in 2031?
From Theatre to Cinema: The Early Years
Lion Cinema traces its origins back to a time when theatre was the pinnacle of entertainment. The grand establishment was originally built by zamindar Kishorilal in honor of Queen Victoria’s 60th coronation anniversary and named Diamond Jubilee Theatre.
It was later acquired in the 1920s by mirza Abdul Qader sardar,who renamed it Lion Theatre.
Perhaps my father was influenced by his surroundings, but one thing is certain – he had a deep passion for theatre and cultural pursuits.
Mirza Abdul Khaleq, son of Mirza Abdul Qader Sardar
Qader staged spectacular Hindi, Urdu and Bengali productions, going so far as to bring in Mustafa Hossain, a renowned set designer from Kolkata.
Then came cinema.
With the rise of silent films, theatre audiences began dwindling, and as talkies arrived in 1931, theatre was gradually edged out. Lion Theatre adapted, screening the subcontinent’s first talkie, Alam ara, marking its full transition into a cinema hall.
What was once a grand stage adorned with lavish set pieces gave way to a simple white screen, onto which films from Bombay (now Mumbai) and Kolkata were projected.
Cinema for All Classes
Unlike other elite cinemas such as Mukul (later Azad) and Picture Palace (later shabistan), Lion was known for its affordability. Tickets were as low as Tk0.2 for third-class seating.
Lion’s seating was a class hierarchy in itself – third-class had wooden benches, second-class had tin chairs, while first-class boasted cushioned seats and private boxes that coudl accommodate entire families.
Yet the thrill of cinema united them all.
The screening of Hunterwali, starring the fearless stunt queen Nadia, drew massive crowds. Some spectators, overcome by emotion, would hurl their lit bidi cigarettes at the screen in anger at on-screen villains.
Mirza Abdul Qader Sardar: A Visionary Leader
Mirza Abdul Qader Sardar wasn’t just a businessman. He was a visionary and a patron of culture. Apart from expanding the Lion brand to cities like rangpur, Jashore and Chattogram, he was deeply involved in politics and activism.
A close ally of Sher-e-bangla AK Fazlul Huq, he played a crucial role in garnering support for the Bengali language movement among the old Dhaka elites after the partition.
His influence was such that when language activists faced hostility while marching through certain neighbourhoods in Old Dhaka, a single directive from him ensured safe passage.
Start marching from tomorrow, no one will dare oppose you.
Mirza Abdul Qader Sardar, reportedly told to student leaders
Struggles in the Modern Era
After Qader Sardar’s passing in 1963, his son, Mirza Abdul Khaleq, inherited the responsibility of running Lion. he modernised the hall in 1983, keeping up with the changing times.
But the golden age of Bangladeshi cinema started fading in the late 1990s, giving way to a wave of obscenity that repelled family audiences.
khaleq’s mother, after spotting an offensive movie poster outside the hall, confronted him:
Can’t you stop screening such films?
It was a breaking point. Unable to reconcile the hall’s legacy with the new wave of cinema, Lion was shut down in 2005.
Though, he informed his mother that he had purchased land on the other side of the Bugiganga River, where he planned to build another Lion Hall.
The Future of Lion Cinema
Today,Lion Cinema Hall no longer exists,replaced by the Lion Tower,an 11-storey commercial complex. Simultaneously occurring, a new venue, Lion Cinemas, opened in Keraniganj in 2022.
However, even this new venture struggles to draw in crowds. On Valentine’s Day 2024, only 24 tickets were sold.
Khaleq considers 2031 as Lion’s centenary, but with only six years left, he is concerned about whether he can continue to subsidise operations in that time.
I’m deeply conflicted. We have several long-serving employees, and if we close down the hall, they’ll be left without work. I simply can’t bring myself to shut it down – it’s not a decision I can easily make. But the situation is becoming increasingly dire, and I don’t see a way forward.
He continued:
Cinema should be an entertainment medium, but today it feels more like a platform for awards. While we’re happy when films win accolades, entertainment must come first.
Lion cinema: A Century of Dhaka’s Entertainment History - Q&A
What was Lion Cinema in Dhaka originally known as?
Lion Cinema was originally known as Diamond Jubilee Theatre. It was built by zamindar Kishorilal in honor of Queen victoria’s 60th coronation anniversary
Where was Lion Cinema originally located, adn what areas were considered elite in Dhaka at the time?
Lion Cinema was originally located in Islampur, Dhaka.In the early 20th century, elite neighborhoods in Dhaka included Patuatuli, Islampur, Nawabpur, Tantibazar, Armanitola, and chawkbazar.
When did Diamond Jubilee Theatre transition into Lion Cinema?
Diamond Jubilee Theatre transitioned into Lion Cinema in the 1920s after being acquired by Mirza Abdul Qader Sardar.
When did Lion Cinema close its doors, and when did a new “Lion” venue open?
Lion Cinema closed its doors in 2005. A new venue named lion Cinemas opened in Keraniganj in 2022.
Why did Lion Theatre transition from theatre to cinema?
The rise of silent films caused theatre audiences to dwindle.
The arrival of talkies in 1931 further accelerated the decline of theatre.
Lion Theatre adapted to the changing entertainment landscape by screening “Alam Ara,” the subcontinent’s first talkie
Key Figures in Lion cinema’s History
| Person | Role/Contribution |
| :———————- | :—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————– |
| Kishorilal | Zamindar who originally built Diamond Jubilee theatre in honor of Queen Victoria. |
| Mirza Abdul Qader Sardar | Acquired Diamond Jubilee Theatre in the 1920s, renamed it Lion Theatre, and staged Hindi, Urdu, and Bengali productions. |
| Mirza Abdul Khaleq | Son of Mirza Abdul Qader Sardar, inherited and modernized lion Cinema in 1963. Faced with challenges that led to the cinema’s closure in 2005, and later oversaw new venue. |
Lion Cinema was known for its affordability, with ticket prices as low as Tk0.2 for third-class seating. The seating arrangement reflected a class hierarchy:
Third-class: Wooden benches
Second-class: Tin chairs
First-class: Cushioned seats and private boxes for families
what meaningful role did Mirza Abdul Qader Sardar play in politics and activism, notably regarding the Bengali language movement?
Mirza Abdul Qader Sardar was a close ally of sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq and played a crucial role in garnering support for the Bengali language movement among the old Dhaka elites after the partition. He ensured safe passage for language activists marching through certain neighborhoods in Old Dhaka.
What factors led to the closure of Lion Cinema in 2005?
The closure of Lion Cinema in 2005 was primarily due to:
The decline of the golden age of Bangladeshi cinema.
A rise in obscenity in films, which repelled family audiences.
what is the current status of Lion Cinema, and what are the challenges it faces?
The original Lion Cinema Hall has been replaced by the lion tower, an 11-story commercial complex. A new venue, Lion Cinemas, opened in Keraniganj in 2022 but struggles to attract crowds. The current owner, Khaleq, is concerned about its ability to continue operations until 2031, which he considers Lion’s centenary year.
What are the key concerns about the future of Lion Cinema?
Low attendance: The new venue struggles to draw in crowds.
Financial viability: Continuing to subsidize operations is becoming increasingly difficult.
Conflict between legacy and modern cinema: The current owner struggles to reconcile the hall’s legacy, with the new wave of cinema, lamenting prioritizing entertainment over awards.
impact on employees: Closing down the hall would leave long-serving employees without work
where is the New Lion Cinema Located?
The new Lion Cinema is located in Keraniganj.