CDs, Copies & Chaos

Mumbai’s DVD rental scene has all but vanished, with iconic libraries like Shemaroo and Teenage closing down. Yet, the city’s love for cinema persists. Pirated DVDs still circulate, while a few hidden shops, stacked with Bollywood classics and indie gems, keep the past alive. For cinephiles, these dusty dens remain a portal to a time when owning a DVD felt like magic. Even as streaming dominates, Mumbai’s film culture refuses to fade—spinning on a scratched but stubborn disc.

~by Vidushi Lal