Usually the week goes by in the grind, leaving one totally exhausted as the weekend approaches. Lethargy overtakes the enthusiasm and so most weekends are spent at home, trying to recover, rejuvenate and prepare oneself for another week's grind. After spending such few weekends in a row at home, one gathers courage for an outing, and so did I. Only, my big adventure was going for a movie in a multiplex theater, which turned out to be a rather unpleasant experience.
After a long time, I went to watch a movie with a friend. Even today standing in the theater while the National Anthem is played before the movie starts gives me goosebumps. I know, its silly; otherwise why would people be still moving around? After settling down, before the movie started, we had to endure a series of movie trailers and advertisements. Wait, aren't we being charged for the movie? And since we are, why the ads? I know, this is an ancient tradition, but that does not make it right, now does it?
I do not talk ill of people who enter late, for I too have been guilty of the same many a times; but could you please not step on my toes and keep you butt at a good distance while you dance in the dark through the narrow passage to reach your seat? A piece of advice - I'm sure your cell phone has a 'torchlight' facility, unless ofcourse its an ancient specimen. If it does, please use it to find you way to your seat and spare me the pain.
just 10 minutes into the movie and I was distracted by high pitched cacophony from seats behind. A group of girls seemed like they had something really important to discuss about. I tried to ignore and it worked. The noise subsided, atleast for a while, and then suddenly a new wave of dissonance arose. I was sure they had something unavoidable to be discussed, like some National security issue. I'm an inquisitive being and so I couldn't help but try to make sense of what they were chirping about. Lipstick! they were talking about their Lipstick! Sucking all the frustration in, in a choked voice, I turned around and said, "Gals, do you mind?", as calmly and politely as I could. Solace, for a while.
I have a habit of switching my cell phone to silent whenever I'm in a theater. Only about 5 minutes after the girls went quiet, my phone started to vibrate. A call from an unknown number. I was expecting a call from a client the same day. Since I didn't want to disturb others, I quietly sneaked out of the hall and attended the call in the passage.
"Hello."
"Hello, Sir. I'm from Airtel. We have a scheme..."
"Teri Maa ki...!", instead of using any vituperative epithets, I chose to disconnect the call and return.
Back at my seat, amidst cellphone rings, SMS alerts and keypad tones from random directions, I was enjoying the movie...until someone's kid started crying at full volume. Where do kids get so much stamina to scream? they eat so little! Another important question is, if these two are miserable taking care of their teething child, should the others too be forced to go through the same hell? why bring your kid to a cinema hall? Shouldn't children below 5 be banned from such places? Take your kids to a garden. Please!
The air condition usually fills up the bladder for most of us normal mortals. And so, toilets at movie theaters are full as soon as there is an intermission. Dont get me wrong, I'm not complaining about the Que, just stating a plain fact. The movie post-intermission went uninterrupted, mostly, except once when one of the lipstick gang dropped their cellphone under their seat and exactly at that moment it started ringing. The Justin Bieber ring tone combined with the frenzy to search the cell phone was cherry on the cake.
The movie ended and subtitles were rolling on the screen. Remember, how in school as soon as the bell rang kids rush outside? It was kinda same here too, only that one baby-step at a time. It was hard not to stamp on someone else's feet, but with determination one can achieve the impossible, and it was achieved. I fail to understand why are people in such a hurry to rush out of the hall that it could result into a stampede! chill people. Take a seat till the ones-about-to-miss-their-train clear the way.
Back at home, As I reminisce over the whole affair, I can proudly claim that going to a movie theater is no less an adventure than any other. It teaches one the importance of anger control/management and sharpens one's communication skills. So, whenever you are too bored with your comfortable life at your home on weekends, do go for a movie at your nearest multiplex.
After a long time, I went to watch a movie with a friend. Even today standing in the theater while the National Anthem is played before the movie starts gives me goosebumps. I know, its silly; otherwise why would people be still moving around? After settling down, before the movie started, we had to endure a series of movie trailers and advertisements. Wait, aren't we being charged for the movie? And since we are, why the ads? I know, this is an ancient tradition, but that does not make it right, now does it?
I do not talk ill of people who enter late, for I too have been guilty of the same many a times; but could you please not step on my toes and keep you butt at a good distance while you dance in the dark through the narrow passage to reach your seat? A piece of advice - I'm sure your cell phone has a 'torchlight' facility, unless ofcourse its an ancient specimen. If it does, please use it to find you way to your seat and spare me the pain.
just 10 minutes into the movie and I was distracted by high pitched cacophony from seats behind. A group of girls seemed like they had something really important to discuss about. I tried to ignore and it worked. The noise subsided, atleast for a while, and then suddenly a new wave of dissonance arose. I was sure they had something unavoidable to be discussed, like some National security issue. I'm an inquisitive being and so I couldn't help but try to make sense of what they were chirping about. Lipstick! they were talking about their Lipstick! Sucking all the frustration in, in a choked voice, I turned around and said, "Gals, do you mind?", as calmly and politely as I could. Solace, for a while.
I have a habit of switching my cell phone to silent whenever I'm in a theater. Only about 5 minutes after the girls went quiet, my phone started to vibrate. A call from an unknown number. I was expecting a call from a client the same day. Since I didn't want to disturb others, I quietly sneaked out of the hall and attended the call in the passage.
"Hello."
"Hello, Sir. I'm from Airtel. We have a scheme..."
"Teri Maa ki...!", instead of using any vituperative epithets, I chose to disconnect the call and return.
Back at my seat, amidst cellphone rings, SMS alerts and keypad tones from random directions, I was enjoying the movie...until someone's kid started crying at full volume. Where do kids get so much stamina to scream? they eat so little! Another important question is, if these two are miserable taking care of their teething child, should the others too be forced to go through the same hell? why bring your kid to a cinema hall? Shouldn't children below 5 be banned from such places? Take your kids to a garden. Please!
The air condition usually fills up the bladder for most of us normal mortals. And so, toilets at movie theaters are full as soon as there is an intermission. Dont get me wrong, I'm not complaining about the Que, just stating a plain fact. The movie post-intermission went uninterrupted, mostly, except once when one of the lipstick gang dropped their cellphone under their seat and exactly at that moment it started ringing. The Justin Bieber ring tone combined with the frenzy to search the cell phone was cherry on the cake.
The movie ended and subtitles were rolling on the screen. Remember, how in school as soon as the bell rang kids rush outside? It was kinda same here too, only that one baby-step at a time. It was hard not to stamp on someone else's feet, but with determination one can achieve the impossible, and it was achieved. I fail to understand why are people in such a hurry to rush out of the hall that it could result into a stampede! chill people. Take a seat till the ones-about-to-miss-their-train clear the way.
Back at home, As I reminisce over the whole affair, I can proudly claim that going to a movie theater is no less an adventure than any other. It teaches one the importance of anger control/management and sharpens one's communication skills. So, whenever you are too bored with your comfortable life at your home on weekends, do go for a movie at your nearest multiplex.
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