If, like the ancient Romans, you love to eat your fill then flop back into a world of cushions belly-up and be entertained (minus the bad karma and the buckets), then a night at the Movie Room and restaurant at Govinda’s in Darlinghurst is a must.
What began in the late seventies as the temple for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness was transformed in 1980 to the now famous Govinda’s - reputedly one of the better vegetarian restaurants in Sydney. Over the years the site has developed into a centre for heavenly and educational pursuits such as yoga, meditation, and vegetarian cooking classes to name but a few, but for simple relaxation and enjoyment you can’t beat the Movie Room.
The Movie Room was opened above the restaurant in 1985 under the artistic guidance of founding member Tony Kaye. In those days films on offer were strictly art-house - classics from the '50s and '60s from India and beyond, preferably with a spiritual or philosophical bent. However, with changing times, a shift was made to create the 'Govinda experience' by introducing the movie/meal deal and rejigging the programming.
"We had to go broader with our appeal," explained Tony as we sat in the restaurant, delicious spicy smells wafting from the kitchen. "The interest in art-house cinema was dwindling and we wanted to make the cinema accessible and interesting to all kinds of people".
And so it is, with the programme a healthy mix of contemporary art house, quality mainstream and "10 percent multiplex", the Movie Room now competes with the big cinemas by offering the latest box office hits at a friendly price. Already that should be enough to tempt you but there is more. There are beds. Double beds. And cushions.
The harem style set-up is the ultimate in movie-viewing comfort. The seats are soft and clean and you can opt for full-recline or sitting-up position and for those that don’t trust themselves to keep the snores at bay the comfy tub chairs are a great alternative. The Movie Room staff encourage you to kick off your shoes and get cosy.
Investigating the philosophy of this heavenly domain, I needed to look no further than the name. Govinda is another title for Krishna and translates as "the protector of the senses". When I asked Tony about it he elaborated, "In Sanskrit there are many nuances of meaning, in this context Govinda traditionally means the reservoir of all pleasure". Indeed.
Photos by Catherine Alcorn
