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One of the oldest cinemas in the country ‘New Olympia’-Maradana, which was patronised by the film lovers in the good old days of the silver screen is preparing to bring the past glory by converting it to a theatre for family oriented films. Starting from 1926, New Olympia has been controlled by the Cader family and at present Afzal Cader representing the third generation of the family is actively involve in the business.

‘We are stiving to make New Olympia a family entertainment theatre and for this purpose we have developed the facilities at the theatre and are planning to improve the quality of the films screened there in the future’ Afzal Cader, Director, The New Olympia Theatre Ltd. said.

‘Having had a glorious beginning as the first cinema in the country, New Olympia had to undergo a number of setbacks some of which were common to the country’s film industry in general’, Mr. Cader explained. With the introduction of television, people left the cinemas and with free flow of DVDs and VCDs of latest movies they did not want to come to theatres, he explained. And added by the inability to get good movies, the theatre survived screening foreign adult only movies.

‘Now, people have started to get back to the cinema and with the development of sound technology, theatres provide unique entertainment experience’ he added. ‘Most movies are made for big screen entertainment and the special effects are lost when watched on any other media other than the big screen’.

In fact in India people flock to theatres despite a ticket in a theatre is above Indian Rs. 1200, Mr. Cader said. New Olympia theatre has recently been renovated, fully air-conditioned and with DTS sound system enables enhanced video and audio entertainment. And the management has made arrangements to get the latest movies from Hollywood and Bollywood, simultaneous with their international releases.

The releases that are lined-up for 2008 at New Olympia include 'American Gangster' (2007) a film based on a New York Magazine article by Mark Jacobson, which depicts the true story of Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas (Washington), who smuggles heroin in the caskets of soldiers killed in Vietnam. He was eventually caught by New York detective Richie Roberts (Crowe), who gets Lucas to turn his talents toward arresting the crooked cops and drug dealers who profit from his scheme.

The film stars Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Carla Gugino, Josh Brolin, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Ted Levine, John Ortiz, Yul Vazquez and Roger Bart. Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) is focused on the relationship between Elizabeth I and Walter Raleigh, to be played by Owen. The first pic focused on the transformation of the young woman into a steely monarch in the 16th century. Rush will return as Sir Francis Walsingham, who in the first film was the architect of the queen's ruthless campaign to solidify her power and stabilize rule in England Cate Blanchett, Clive Owen, Geoffrey Rush Films to be released in 2008 include.

The others in the line up include 'Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull' (2008), The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor (2008), The Incredible Hulk (2008) and Mamma Mia! (2008).