MATINEE SHOW ! AT ALLAHABAD
We had priorities clear from early days .We watched 'Matinee Show' to watch our 'Matinee Idols'. First Day first Show was an achievement we boasted of. Money was scarce and lower stall was therefore preferred. Some money was always saved for Samosas during interval; which was must. As the interval approached the smell of freshly 'deep fried' samosas in 'Dalda' was awaited expectantly. After the show there was no rush to walk out but we leisured out of cinema halls much after the screen was darkened ( those days titles/credits appeared in the beginning and this western trend of titles rolling out at end had not commenced). Outside we looked out for the vendors selling song lyrics along with peanuts. The lyrics had to be obtained and songs memorized . I remember many songs and still when these appear on TV i can sing them along. I do not remember syllabus of the many subjects i studied in college and school. Such was our devotion and passion! The story of the film with action and dialogues was narrated to our neighbors who had missed the fun. It was considered normal to fall in love with the heroine for a period and many days and nights were consumed thinking of her. Minute details were noted-color of her sari, the jewellery she wore, the cut of her salwar kameez , her haircut etc. Soon after the first Matinee show the verdict on the film was announced . Hit or Flop. This has indeed been the norm and famous Directors such as Subhash Ghai among others have stated that fate of a film is decided by the audience during 'First day First Show'. There was no hurry to return home , after pulling out our cycles from the stand the film was discussed threadbare with heated arguments to drive home our views and to defend the performance of our -Matinee Idol.
The craze was such that when we visited other towns and cities the first preferred location hunt was cinema halls and the movies playing. I visited my friend in Kanpur and the next morning i skipped an important marriage ceremony of his sister and saw 'nau do gya raha'( Dev starrer) at the local theater.During my job interview at Banglore where luckily i spent many days the fullness of Cinema scene in that great city , in the late seventies was explored with missionary zeal. I may not remember many historical places in important cities but i still remember the cinema halls there ( i am a history student)
Now that era and its magic is waning and like many like me there is tremendous lament. Cinema is now captured and arrested in mobile sets of the masses. Entertainment is acquired effortlessly with least invest of emotion. No one suffers the loss of failure to obtain opening show tickets; how it haunted you for days!! The finest Art creation of 20th Century shall be victim of IT revolution and Capitalist intent to such an extent one could not fathom!
Looking for some savior! I cannot see this charming beauty to be mauled in such a manner!!!
