The cinema was identified as a defunct structure in 2016. Pic courtesy/Mohammed Esa Shaikh

"Diana Talkies, the single screen hall at Tardeo, used to be popular with cine goers. It was where the 'second run' for films was screened. In those days, after a film released in major theatres of Bombay, the second run would see the same movie being screened in these cinemas, especially across south central Mumbai," recalls Rafique Baghdadi, a film historian. In fact, the city chronicler was surprised when we shared the news with him; he had noticed the grand old lady stand in quiet ruin only a couple of weeks back.