MORNING SHOW
The
'morning show' of cinema at Allahabad fills me with many memories,
good youthful memories when we boys from St Joseph's would flock to
see the regular English cinema at reduced rates, at Palace cinema
hall or Plaza Theater at civil lines, sometimes at Niranjan too , but
mostly it was Palace or Plaza. It was a sort of get together of
school friends. The one movie which I remember vividly was 'Beckett'
starring Richard Burton and Peter O'toole, the performance of the two
actors was discussed during the school. We went with much expectation
to see 'Ice station Zebra', starring Rock Hudson but were
disappointed by lack of action. Later Payal and Zhankar theaters too
screened English movies, yes! 'Hawwai' starring Julia Andrews and
Richard Harris and the famous Swedish actor who starred in most
Bergman films, the film made an impact with its epic coverage and
great acting by Julia Andrews and then there was this film of Richard
Burton called 'Villain' I saw at Payal. There were westerns too 'El
dorado' starring John Wayne and Robert Mitchum.
The
first taste was with our Dad when he took us to Palace to see 'Count
of mount of cristo' a film based on Alexander Dumas novel, then there
was no looking back. We saw many hindi films too but the charm of
English movie was unique; how can we forget the war movies-'Tobruk'
starring Rock Hudson , 'Battle of Bulge' starring Robert Shaw.
These
days too at Mumbai I go for morning shows sometimes, but that
excitement is missing, it is just a routine feeling. The cost and
gloss which has covered cinema going specially at multiplexes has
robbed of its soul. It is so full of commerce and money making that
that the wonderment of that youthful charm is lost
Or
probably I am not in touch with changing times! What is there to
expect from a generation which is overfed on cinema-DVD, TV,
internet downloading, cinema for them is just a click away! But I
remember the old times when we were young and so serious about
cinema. It was never a costly affair, despite our economic constraint
we managed a ticket of lower stalls. I seriously feel that cinema
should be subsidized being a large medium of mass entertainment; but
then how will the films earn 100 crore and more ! A disease
afflicted cinema world these days. For me cinema is still a passion,
have maintained to retain the childlike response to it. I still see
cinema on Fridays and miss it when movies are not released, despite
many theaters and shows , I still book tickets for hyped movies.
That
tension, that expectation still grapples me which was there when I
struggled to find a view to watch Dilip Kumar's 'Daag' during the
Annual function of the Valmiki college near my house. Or still when
as children we lined up to watch films on 16mm projector of my
friend's father; films borrowed from 'chalchitra vibhag' Allahabad.
The association continued in University as we looked forward to
screening of film society where we were introduced to the masters and
witnessed the innocence of 'The bicycle thieves', which prompted me
to watch Ray and others. The journey continues for me as I still long
for that elusive ' morning show'.
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