Don’t let the beat-up, unlit, pigeon-inhabited marquee deter you: The Eagle is most definitely open, and the experience inside is about as far from a Manhattan multiplex as possible. The Eagle shows the best, and most recent, releases Bollywood has to offer, in a cavernous theater where, on hot summer afternoons, local families come with multiple well-behaved children in tow. Instead of trailers, expect to see surreally hilarious Hindi music videos beforehand—there may be quite a few before the projectionist gets the film working. In addition to popcorn, fresh samosas are available at the small concession desk. And then there are the films themselves, advertised on myriad posters throughout the lobby. Right now, N. R. Pachisia’s romantic comedy Kya Love Story Hai is showing; coming soon, Siddharth Anand’s family drama Ta Ra Rum Pum, about a Indian NASCAR driver and his family (who appear to do a dance sequence on the Brooklyn Bridge), and Cheeni Kum, “a sugar-free romance” starring The Namesake’s Tabu. The speakers may be a little loud, the ticket turnstile creaky, and the certificate of approval from the government of India shown before each movie a bit cheesy, but it’s light-years away from corporate cinema.

Eagle Movie Theater
73-07 37th Rd., Jackson Heights

Related:

• Archive: “Movie Features”
• Table of Contents: May 14, 2007 issue of New York | Subscribe!