KARACHI: With the introduction of multiplexes in cinemagoers’ lives, single screens have become, almost, a story of the days of yore. At least that’s what one gets to hear in the form of a lament when it comes to the myriads of analyses on the state of cinema in Pakistan. But, recently, a video made by a caring cinema-lover circulating on social media has reminded everyone that the once popular Reno Cinema in the city is still up and running. In fact, the video used the word saja diya gaya hai (decorated) by showing the dozens of posters of old Pakistani movies adorning the movie theatre’s walls.

A visit to Reno Cinema verifies that — as you climb up the first flight of stairs to the cinema house, you do see a big number of posters, such as those of movies Behroop (1971) and Mehtab (1962), welcoming you. Reno is running shows on a daily basis, pretty regularly. One would have thought that the facility has been shut down or stopped being functional. No, that’s not the case. It never disappeared. It was always there.

M Jumman, who looks after the day-to-day affairs of the picture house, sitting behind a wooden desk on the first floor of the building off Garden Road where Reno is situated, says, “It’s been here for more than two decades. It was briefly closed but that was a long time ago — 18 years back.”

There are two main shows every day: one at 3pm and the other at 6pm. When this correspondent visited, Sasta Khoon Menhga Pani was slotted for 3pm and Aulad for 6pm. The former is a Punjabi film with Sultan Rahi leading the actors’ pack and the latter was made in Urdu, starring Waheed Murad and Nayyar Sultana.

Two main shows are screened daily at 3pm and 6pm

With regard to footfall, Jumman doesn’t sound jubilant. “It’s not that kind of a crowd that you would expect. We have a big hall but we get 20 to 25 people for one show.”

He adds it doesn’t fetch him much but he’s able to put food on the table for his children (bachon ka guzar basar ho raha hai).

Anyone who is interested in culture and the arts must praise those who are running Reno Cinema and support them for the simple reason that they’re screening old Pakistani films, keeping the audiences entertained and aware of the history of our local cinema industry. This is despite the fact that the prints that Reno has, as Jumman bemoans about the projects involving Waheed Murad, are not that good.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2026