Films

Was clearing my drive again today when I saw this thing. I wrote it around last year on another blog, and I thought I might share it up here as well, you may find it interesting. Cheers.

Today someone asked me why I love movies so much….

I smiled back silently. There were quite a few ways I could have answered this question. How does one begin to explain what goes through my mind at the thought of watching a film, any film? It’s difficult to put it into words, you know. But let me try to do that here if I can. Some of you who I’ve told this to might find it familiar, and for the others it may provide some insight, so read on.

It’s raining outside… you get up in the morning, and if you’re me, then most mornings you stare drowsily into your bathroom mirror intently, trying to recognize the haggard prick looking back at you…

There’s something different about this morning…there’s a little jolt of excitement and apprehension that’s been plaguing you through the pits of your stomach since you’ve woken up. You KNOW this is going to be like no other day. There’s something about a visit to the cinema hall that makes you half smile, every time you remind yourself that pretty soon you’ll be in there…

So in great anticipation you begin rushing with everything don’t you…? It pisses you off when the people around you don’t seem to understand why you’re rushing. They don’t seem to understand the reason behind your passive excitement. To them, it’s just another film, just another outing. It’s like any other public place, any destination that attracts large crowds. But to you, it’s like a second home…

You finally do leave your place of residence, cursing at your own bad luck of being a half hour late. Those sneakers always seem to disappear whenever you’re in a hurry to be anywhere, don’t they? Braving the windy rains and the puddles of water all over your neighborhood with nothing but a black umbrella, you set out for your journey. Rickshaws and cabs are hard to come by in this weather of course and buses are out of the question because of the time factor, but you still don’t give up hope.

You glance at your watch. Glistening through the drops of water on the glass is the time. You have exactly fifteen minutes to get there now, and you’re praying that the show does not turn into a full house. At this point you suddenly think for a second and whip your right hand instinctively to the back of your trousers fishing out your wallet to make sure you have enough money for the ticket. *phew* enough for ticket and popcorn… Nothing like popcorn. Nothing…

You’re finally there... Chaos and pandemonium…Umbrellas and raincoats of various shapes and sizes and colours everywhere…some of them are freakishly psychedelic. At one corner is a guy trying to manage a bunch of unruly kids, one of them having just kicked him in the shins rather hard. At another end is a young college couple who can’t seem to get their hands off each other, and are itching to get themselves a seat in the last row in the darkness and start the snuggling. You valiantly push your way through all this and get to the counter, holding out your money. You already begin to glance at the possibility of selecting a good enough seat. Got to have the best of everything, surround sound, quick exit in case it’s actually a bad film, and closest to the canteen for the interval. You’re in luck and you select one right in the centre. Only a matter of time now…

The doors open. You make sure to take your time now, to find your seat and make yourself comfortable. As you enter the hall, the first thing you sense is the change in the temperature. Cool, air conditioning, wonderful ambience, and there’s a hush around the whole place as people are filing in from everywhere. Old classic music plays. Dimmed lights all over the place, with a flicker and an occasional flash here and there from the torch of the usher. You don’t need him, you think to yourself with a sardonic smile. Let the rest of the fuckers try and decipher letters and numbers, you’re educated well enough to find your own seat.

The moment you sit down, you lean back instinctively. Followed by a rather long deep sigh. This sigh signifies a lot. This sigh signifies your struggle at having got here. It signifies the long hours of having waited to watch this movie. It takes you back to the previous night when you were propped up on one shoulder in bed, wondering what 9 15 a.m. was going to feel like. Well its here now, and it grips you at the heart even more.

Trailers are like foreplay before the action. I mean this quite literally you know. The movies would never work if there were no trailers and teasers about them made and shown in every cinema hall. You have to watch the trailers don’t you? Can’t get enough of them. Whether the movie is good or the worst piece of turd to come into existence, chances are it’s a very good trailer nonetheless. One by one they play in front of your eyes, and your heart is literally thumping with excitement by now. This is just what you needed, you needed to have something to open your eyes, no, open your mind a bit further. Love the voice over guy with the deep husky voice. You try and imagine that the dude has smoked at least ten packs of cigarettes before recording his voiceover for the trailer. Hands into your pockets and you switch your cell phone on silent. A few more minutes now and then….

Lights out….Silence falls over the entire place…..Darkness……

20^th Century Fox…..

Enough talk now…..movie’s started.

- Darius Mistry