Today we were talking about a tamil movie, "Nayagan", starring Kamal Hassan. There was a scene where he was beaten up and I was screaming "They are beating appa up"(in tamil ofcourse). My dad had to take me out as I was distrubing others and embarassing my mom and him. I have no recollection of the movie or this incident but my mother would always narrate this incident to me laughing at my reaction to a movie.
The next memory I retain of watching movie in theatre, infact my first movie experience that I remember, was on my parents' wedding anniversary. We went to watch the hindi movie, Saudagar. It was a cute Romeo-Juliet kind of a movie with lovely songs. Songs which we still hum with fond memories. I would have been 6-7 years old at that time.
Then, my next memorable movie was Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. For most of the time, movies were an all-family event. This movie was the first one that was only mom-daughter date. I cried so much through the movie and Amma was handing over hanky to me to wipe away tears. This time, there was no screaming, just silently crying along with the characters. I still watch that movie once in a while as it reminds me of that day we spent together.
We used to then frequent movie dates through the years and then there was one more memorable movie - Rocket Singh, salesman of the year. I left for work that day, got drenched in rain by the time i reached egmore, so decided to take the day off and stay at home. Then it stopped raining and Amma and I decided to go watch some movie to use up the day off. Rocket Singh was the only one available, so we left home to Ega Theatre on my scooty. The movie as such was a bore. We didn't laugh or cry or have any emotion. It was like an intolerable documentary about Rocket Singh. Post the movie, when we stepped out, we saw that it had been raining for three hours and the road was filled with water. Remember that we had taken my scooty, so we would have to get wet in the rain, yet again! And I had to drive without stopping as the water was too close to the exhaust. We did it and finally reached home. Phew! It was very memorable. We had a good laugh about it. I only wish we had more such memories to laugh about.
Another movie that was memorable was Jurrasic Park. We watched in Chennai with my mother's uncle and his kids(who were younger than me). Funnily I remember the younger one having to go potty and uncle went to accompany him with toilet paper roll in hand - which was a new concept to me as a kid.
Jeans - a movie that I watched with 2 grand mothers and 1 great grandmother and extended family. It was also a very interesting movie and the songs and the scenes made it another memorable watch.
Jab we met - a movie that I took my maternal family in Delhi for a treat. I remember paati asking me if I had enough money and if needed she would pitch it. I had started working and could actually afford it, but it was so sweet that she was worried about me having enough money to spend. Additionally i treated them to dinner too and the movie was a perfect entertainer and a real theatre experience with family. I am proud of have done that and extremely pleased with the choice of movie too.
Inception was the first movie that watched with my better half. Imagine going on a date and then watching a movie so seriously and also discussing the movie plot and ending for another hour post the movie. That was fun too. Then came Madrasapattinam on our next date and it ended up being the first movie ever that we walked out of post interval. It was unbearable, but still a movie that we would remember and laugh about.
I enjoy movies in theatres. The crowd, the popcorn and pepsi, the promo and tobacco warnings, everything. My maternal grandmother used to be very particular to reach movie theatre on time and before the promos started. I understand that now, though my better half is used to getting in just in time of even 30 minutes after the movie starts! Paati used to pack snacks in those days when they did not charge a fortune for snacks and they did not stop us from taking our hot bread bondas in.
I am hoping my son also forms memories of watching movies with me and the popcorn and junk we would snack upon. I am trying to convince him for Zootopia 2. Wish me luck !
Until next time, Happy Reading.
My Father-in-law was not the typical FIL who was distant and would not interact with his daughter-in-law. Well, initially he was like that and then he warmed up to my presence and opened up to me. Over the last few years, as we spent a lot of time together, as we were all living in the same home, he became my close friend, mentor, guide and my biggest cheerleader. He was born in Shimoga, grew up in Amrutur with his aunt, started his family in Sagara and eventually retired into Bangalore. 80+ years, he has had the most enviable life. Don't mistake it for a rosy life or a life with no issues or problems! He was one among 11 - 6 boys and 5 girls. He was the 2nd child and as his mother had more children, she needed help raising the kids and so she reached out to her sister in law to take care of him in Amruthur - a farmland. He grew up under the care of his aunt and love from his cousins, who were all girls. He would eat fresh food from the abundance of the farm and also drink milk so...
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