Bengaluru's Vibrant Film Clubs: Rediscovering Cinema with Community Conversations

Bengaluru’s Vibrant Film Clubs: Rediscovering Cinema with Community Conversations | Bengaluru News

New to Bengaluru, Kasturee Chakravarty from Guwahati hoped to meet people with similar interests by attending events and joining clubs. That search led her to … Read more

Amir58

April 28, 2026

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6 minutes

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New to Bengaluru, Kasturee Chakravarty from Guwahati hoped to meet people with similar interests by attending events and joining clubs. That search led her to Cinema Next Door this January. She discovered it through an Instagram post about the screening of ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ — a film that was on her watchlist for years — and decided to attend. “Since then, there is no looking back. This club has introduced me to such a warm community. The founders and members are all a lovely bunch of people, and I look forward to seeing them just as much as watching the films,” she says. Last week, she watched ‘Mississippi Masala’ — Mira Nair’s 1991 film — with her newfound friends. “The post-screening discussion added layers to my understanding,” says Kasturee. “It was fascinating to hear others draw comparisons with her broader body of work. The conversation highlighted nuances and parallels I probably would have missed on my own.” She enjoyed the on-screen chemistry of actors Sarita Chowdhury and Denzel Washington, but the film’s larger themes of identity, displacement, race, and belonging came alive through the group conversation after the screening. A warm, informal film culture In the times when you can sit on your couch and even group-stream movies with friends faraway, many in Bengaluru are reinventing the charm of vintage film clubs. Across Bengaluru, small film clubs are offering a wholesome, intimate and ad-free immersive experience distinct from multiplexes. Many screenings are held on the terraces of independent houses, with attendees chatting before and after the show, creating a strong sense of community. Post screening discussions ensure that everyone, whether a cinephile or not, gets a chance to share their first impressions. Organizers say this setup keeps regular viewing affordable — up to eight films a month for under Rs 900. Underground Film Club founder Falah Faisal recalls not finding a seat for himself when he screened ‘Frances Ha’ a couple of years ago. Falah says the club is “an excuse to watch my favorite films with an audience.” Curated with care Film enthusiast Vishesh Chitrash likes film clubs because of their carefully curated, unique, and interesting films, something multiplexes rarely offer. Film clubs screen everything from world cinema and independent films to Indian films. They screen cinema of as many sensibilities, regions, and languages as possible. A recent curation by a film club explored how love is depicted across languages, identities and sexuality. At The Parallel Cinema Club, curation follows a research process of going through the history of films, and essays on film theories to build a skeleton for the lineup. The curation process usually starts months in advance. “We have the entire year planned out,” says Nikhil Waiker, founder and curator of the film club.“This month, we are celebrating our 5th anniversary, and hence, we are looking back at films that hold a cherished memory in our hearts. For Jan and Feb, we had a curation—Female Gaze—which focused on remembering female directors who were forgotten in history, while also highlighting the perils of the patriarchy. We promote art cinema a lot. As a result, we happened to have films from Senegal, Burkina Faso, Angola, Lebanon amongst many other countries. We also had a curation for experimental cinema. These films are usually not on everyone’s film radar, and so, we make it our responsibility to showcase them through a curation,” he says.Manu, a curator, says he chooses films based on their themes, how relevant they are, whether they would lead to a good discussion, and whether they are worth seeing on a bigger screen. “Diversity and representation are also very important to us,” he says. Kavz, another curator, tries to be as diverse as they can in terms of geography, gender and language. Varying turnout Audience size varies by venue and film, with turnout depending heavily on the specific screening. Cinema Next Door reports that at Underline Center in Indiranagar, average attendance is about 30–35 people per screening. At The Bangalore Local in Koramangala, the average attendance is 50. “Even multiplex screenings fluctuate, with big releases sometimes running full while smaller titles may draw very few people. One screening was cited as having about six attendees,” says Vinayak Bhat of Bangalore Film Forum. Deep, substantial conversationsFollowing each film, movie enthusiasts have a discussion on the film. “We have also started reading sessions on film essays to also build an acquaintance with film literature. Incidentally, a lot of our members like this informal scholastic approach. It’s encouraging to watch people bond over movies while building a strong community,” adds Nikhil. Distraction-free experience Most private screenings begin with an introduction by the curator with no interruptions by ads or intervals. “Our film society curates screenings based on what’s important to watch, not what will make money,” Vinayak says. Vishesh agrees, adding that having a fixed number of seats — neither overwhelmingly large nor uncomfortably small — creates a safe and intimate environment that encourages deeper engagement. VOICE BOX“We began with home screenings for friends, before moving to an office terrace and then a café. Screenings now take place primarily at Untitled Arts Foundation in JP Nagar, with occasional screenings at larger venues such as the Museum of Art and Photography (MAP), G5A Academy Institute of Cinema and Entertainment Institute and Sabha. Coffee and biscuits are provided before the screening to encourage mingling. A small team handles programming, coordination, permissions and rights. Vinayak Bhat | CURATOR AND FOUNDER, BANGALORE FILM FORUM“Even after the screening, the film continues to unfold through conversation, gradually building a sense of bonding among those present in the room. Vishesh Chitrashi | MOVIE ENTHUSIAST“This community has changed me in small, unexpected ways. At my first screening, I almost left before the discussion because I am not comfortable sitting amongst strangers and talking. I am glad that I decided to stay. Now the post-screening discussions are my favorite part. Sometimes I hang around before and after the screening just to chat with the people and that has been a pretty fun development personally. Kasturee Chakravarty MOVIE ENTHUSIASTWhenever possible, I get the directors to do a Q&A online. It gives the audience a chance to interact with the filmmakers and get more insights on the films. Falah Faisal | FOUNDER AND CURATOR, UNDERGROUND FILM CLUB

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Amir58

Tags: Bengaluru film clubs, cinema events, community cinema, independent film screenings, post-screening discussions

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