The real fun of watching movies was always at my native place – Kolhapur. It was a complete return-on-investment stuff – The action off the screen almost matching the show on the screen. Kolhapur happens to be a prosperous (smallest city in India with Merc showroom of its own!!) art-loving city. I do not know how many cities in India have the film artists’ / directors’, classical music maestros’ statues without they turning politicians and all. I do not know how many cities have Raj Kapoor’s statues in public places – The city has always been a movie buff and quite evolved when it comes to Cinema – The golden era of Marathi Cinema (yes there was!) was from this place.
As most of the school holidays used to be spent there, Kolhapur has always been an integral part of my childhood. It is in those holidays that I really freaked out on the “movie experience” that was so different from routine Mumbai one..... But what made movie watching in Kolhapur so exciting was not the Kolhapur citizens – it was the people who poured in from country-side that made it special. Being the most happening place of that part of the world – folks from nearby countryside used to flock in – to entertain themselves....as well as entertain others albeit unintentionally....
The fun started right at the ticket window..... was not uncommon to have an argument at the window for “One full and one half ticket”!....its only when the fellows in the Queue intervened, the fellow would grumblingly take out the balance money from the folds of his turban.......
No-one wasted precious printing ink on stuff like printing seat numbers on tickets ...... so as the crowd waited for doorkeepers to open the door, scene resembled more like sprinters waiting for the whistle... By experience, you would know that there was no need to participate in the race..... the winners generally preferred front seats!!
The class act was “Big B” movies – always reverentially referred as “Bachchan” – the entry would be greeted with shrill whistles and a generous shower of coins on the screen.... the involvement in Bachchan was so complete that it was not unusual for a few to stand up and cheer the fights.... not to mention the tips that poured in for the fights... well after all its a city of wrestlers....... Loud expletives were thrown at villains - for those who do not know the place, strong expletives (what you call Gaalis) is not considered bad manners...its just part of ...well....normal language!
I still remember watching re-run of iconic Zanjeer in Kolhapur. As I took the seat, a fellow in front of me took out his pouch and while sharing the tobacco with the neighbour said something seriously, which I remember word-by-word to this day ...” this movie there is no tension – that b**##%d Praan (the famous villain) is with Bachchan, otherwise he can be a pain!” as they relaxed in their seats, I just stopped myself from asking – “But what about Ajit? (the villain of Zanjeer)”.
As I watch the movies in comfort of a multiplex or my living room sofa with much better “Technology” experience – I almost get a lump in my throat missing the real experience around – the source of which is a rare commodity now – innocence!
The most amazing movie experience was when Pallavi and I went to Kolhapur first time after our marriage – The big joint family decided to go for a movie – it was the smash-hit that time – Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ)........ As we were taking our seats two of my younger cousins (I think they were in 3rd or 4th standard) rushed and sat on either side of Pallavi.... they wanted see the movie with their brand new bhaabhi (elder brother’s wife)..... so I watched DDLJ sitting between my mother and my aunt! I am waiting for those buggers to grow up and marry.....so that I can take them to a movie in Kolhapur with their newly wed brides......!!!!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Of Diwali and Guns ....
Once the Dusshera is over, I almost have to kill time till its Diwali – one of my most favourite festivals with lots of great memories around it.
Even today I try and live Diwali almost the same way I used to enjoy in my childhood – well almost the same way I should rather say....
One of the greatest childhood fantasies was around the Diwali guns with the strips of crackers loaded on to it – well - this had to stop at a certain age more on account of social pressure than my own will to stop it!!
Every Diwali as I get into my “child zone”, I always kept missing this one piece - till one fine day a brainwave struck..... I think it was nearing Diwali time about five years back when Janhavi - my daughter – was in 2nd Standard. As Pallavi used to work on Saturday – it was a day always shared by father and daughter. Of course Pallavi had given us something to study as some stupid class Test was around. As soon as she left, we finished Janhavi’s study in about 15 minutes flat!! ... I always had a very democratic way of dealing with my daughter’s study when wife was not around – we flipped through some pages and both agreed she knew everything – as always I realized what a brilliant child I am blessed with....
“Janhavi, I have a plan for some fun”....I was scratching my head to entice my partner in crime....”Lets go and buy couple of toy guns and crackers – one for you and one for me”.....”But I don’t like guns much – lets go and buy something else”.....”Hmmm...well sweetheart.. we’ll build a story around it”.....”You mean like a movie??”...asked the veteran 7 year old movie buff...”Of course!!”....”Wow....amazing...sounds like a plan!!! Lets go”......
Just went out and bought a couple of really mean-looking ones....what an amazing act of indifference I had to put on at the shop, while purchasing those guns lest the shopkeeper should feel I am NUTS!..... Could hardly wait to come home.....As soon as we were back, I loaded both the guns with the cracker strips...”well ... lets start” .....taking position behind the staircase in the house – I fired the first volley almost delirious with joy!.........”WAIT!...you said we’ll do like a movie!!”, Janhavi yelled tightly covering her ears....”Yes...so I’ll be the dacoit”....I offered half graciously...half puzzled! “Not like this...where is the story?” “WHAT story??” I asked coming out of my hideout...”Well you sit here..I’ll make one”...”OK” I sat down on the sofa resigning to the situation.....Next 15 – 20 minutes she just moved tables and chairs to create a set as if competing with Nitin Desai! Sitting idle I just fired another round of gunshots in the air only to be snubbed and asked to be quiet for some time.....then came a script..........GOSH!..with clear instructions about where she will come from.. what will she say and when exactly is my turn to say my piece.....as I obediently took my position I fired another round of shots...”Can we do something about that?”....my director asked pointing towards the gun ....”WHAT?”....”That thing just makes a crazy noise!” she continued to my utter dismay ”Can we just take out those stupid cracker strips and play our movie?”...Resigned to my fate, I threw away the cracker strip from my gun and went through playing my part so energetically that even Bharat Bhushan (god bless his soul) would have looked dashing and dynamic!!!
With one brilliant idea nipped in the bud that time, I am waiting for my chance again now as Diwali approaches
Chinmay – my son – the younger of my children is growing now......well I am waiting again for a Diwali....now-a-days they make such fantastic pieces....I have already spotted couple of sleek Diwali guns.....really sleek you know..........
Even today I try and live Diwali almost the same way I used to enjoy in my childhood – well almost the same way I should rather say....
One of the greatest childhood fantasies was around the Diwali guns with the strips of crackers loaded on to it – well - this had to stop at a certain age more on account of social pressure than my own will to stop it!!
Every Diwali as I get into my “child zone”, I always kept missing this one piece - till one fine day a brainwave struck..... I think it was nearing Diwali time about five years back when Janhavi - my daughter – was in 2nd Standard. As Pallavi used to work on Saturday – it was a day always shared by father and daughter. Of course Pallavi had given us something to study as some stupid class Test was around. As soon as she left, we finished Janhavi’s study in about 15 minutes flat!! ... I always had a very democratic way of dealing with my daughter’s study when wife was not around – we flipped through some pages and both agreed she knew everything – as always I realized what a brilliant child I am blessed with....
“Janhavi, I have a plan for some fun”....I was scratching my head to entice my partner in crime....”Lets go and buy couple of toy guns and crackers – one for you and one for me”.....”But I don’t like guns much – lets go and buy something else”.....”Hmmm...well sweetheart.. we’ll build a story around it”.....”You mean like a movie??”...asked the veteran 7 year old movie buff...”Of course!!”....”Wow....amazing...sounds like a plan!!! Lets go”......
Just went out and bought a couple of really mean-looking ones....what an amazing act of indifference I had to put on at the shop, while purchasing those guns lest the shopkeeper should feel I am NUTS!..... Could hardly wait to come home.....As soon as we were back, I loaded both the guns with the cracker strips...”well ... lets start” .....taking position behind the staircase in the house – I fired the first volley almost delirious with joy!.........”WAIT!...you said we’ll do like a movie!!”, Janhavi yelled tightly covering her ears....”Yes...so I’ll be the dacoit”....I offered half graciously...half puzzled! “Not like this...where is the story?” “WHAT story??” I asked coming out of my hideout...”Well you sit here..I’ll make one”...”OK” I sat down on the sofa resigning to the situation.....Next 15 – 20 minutes she just moved tables and chairs to create a set as if competing with Nitin Desai! Sitting idle I just fired another round of gunshots in the air only to be snubbed and asked to be quiet for some time.....then came a script..........GOSH!..with clear instructions about where she will come from.. what will she say and when exactly is my turn to say my piece.....as I obediently took my position I fired another round of shots...”Can we do something about that?”....my director asked pointing towards the gun ....”WHAT?”....”That thing just makes a crazy noise!” she continued to my utter dismay ”Can we just take out those stupid cracker strips and play our movie?”...Resigned to my fate, I threw away the cracker strip from my gun and went through playing my part so energetically that even Bharat Bhushan (god bless his soul) would have looked dashing and dynamic!!!
With one brilliant idea nipped in the bud that time, I am waiting for my chance again now as Diwali approaches
Chinmay – my son – the younger of my children is growing now......well I am waiting again for a Diwali....now-a-days they make such fantastic pieces....I have already spotted couple of sleek Diwali guns.....really sleek you know..........
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